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Purplish Copper
Lycaena helloides (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male brown with purple iridescence; female more orange. Hindwing of both sexes with broad orange band at margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol in low spots for females. Eggs are scattered at the base of the host plant or in litter beneath it. Eggs hibernate; caterpillars feed on leaves.
Flight: Three or four flights in lower elevation California. Two flights in many areas from May-July and from August-October. One flight at high altitude and far northern habitats from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Knotweeds (Polygonum) and docks (Rumex) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), cinquefoils in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including roadsides and open fields; wet meadows, marshes, streamsides, and valleys.
Range: Great Lakes area through the northern Midwest and northern plains to British Columbia, south to Baja California. Comments: The distinction between the Purplish Copper and the Dorcas Copper is blurred in the Rocky Mountains. These populations here are considered under the Purplish Copper.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 337 - 360 of 1262 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 23, 2013
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Albany County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 11, 2014
Observation date: Jul 18, 2013
Submitted by: M Mimura
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Feb 10, 2014
Observation date: Aug 28, 2013
Submitted by: toddewen
Region: Lake County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Feb 10, 2014
Observation date: Oct 10, 2013
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 17, 2014
Observation date: Oct 07, 2013
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 07, 2014
Observation date: Sep 15, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 05, 2013
Observation date: Jun 09, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 29, 2013
Submitted by: wsensei
Region: Harney County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2013
Observation date: Sep 10, 2013
Submitted by: jim8435wisc
Region: Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 25, 2013
Observation date: Aug 31, 2013
Submitted by: cbruner
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 24, 2013
Observation date: Aug 25, 2013
Submitted by: Geoff Urwin
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 16, 2013
Observation date: Aug 27, 2013
Submitted by: raymond smith
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 16, 2013
Observation date: Aug 03, 2013
Submitted by: snowcat
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 21, 2013
Observation date: Aug 03, 2013
Submitted by: snowcat
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 21, 2013
Observation date: Aug 17, 2013
Submitted by: randimal
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 20, 2013
Observation date: Aug 04, 2013
Submitted by: irshprncsk
Region: Skamania County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 12, 2013
Observation date: Jul 29, 2013
Submitted by: jamesheintz1
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2013
Observation date: Aug 05, 2013
Submitted by: Dave Kinney
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2013
Observation date: Jun 18, 2013
Submitted by: Dave Kinney
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 24, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: Jamie Chavez
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2013
Observation date: Jul 10, 2010
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Tillamook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: danaross
Verified date: Apr 30, 2013
Observation date: Oct 23, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 10, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K Hansen-S. Mattoon)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 13, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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