Blue Copper
Lycaena heteronea Boisduval, 1852
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upper surface of male bright blue, with darker veins; female dull blue to dark brown with numerous small dark spots. Underside of both sexes white to yellow-white; hindwing varies from having many to few black spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.9 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Most males patrol near host plants for females, but some perch. Females lay eggs singly on bracts under host leaves or umbels; eggs hatch the following spring. Young caterpillars feed on the underside of leaf; older ones eat all parts of the leaf.
Flight: One flight from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wild buckwheat (Eriogonum species) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers, including wild buckwheat.
Habitat: Brushy areas, open forest, mountain meadows, sagebrush; mostly at high elevations except for low elevations in central California.
Range: British Columbia south and east through southcentral California, northern Arizona, and northern New Mexico.
Conservation: Lycaena heteronea has The Nature Conservancy Global Rank of G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Varied Copper (subspecies clara) of southern California has been evaluated for conservation, and has The Nature Conservancy rank of T2 - Imperiled because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range).
NCGR:
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 121 - 144 of 510 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 07, 2011
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2011
Observation date: Aug 25, 2011
Submitted by: John Ashley
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 04, 2011
Observation date: Jul 12, 2011
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 23, 2011
Observation date: Jun 24, 1969
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 09, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 29, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 09, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 15, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 10, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 07, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 11, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeff Pippin)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 09, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 25, 2009
Submitted by: plex1ppus (plex1ppus)
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 06, 2011
Observation date: Jun 14, 2009
Submitted by: plex1ppus (plex1ppus)
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 11, 2011
Observation date: Jul 11, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 16, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Don Eff)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 14, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 16, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Madison County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 19, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 07, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Wasco County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 19, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 11, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 20, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 22, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
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