Bronze Copper
Lycaena hyllus (Cramer, 1775)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male iridescent copper-brown; female forewing yellow-orange with black spots. Underside forewing of both sexes orange with black spots; underside hindwing is gray-white with black spots and a broad orange outer margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 7/8 inches (3.2 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch on low growth near host plants to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on plants. Eggs hibernate until spring; caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: Two in the north and west, from June-September; three in southern part of range, from May-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Herbs of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) including curly dock (Rumex crispus).
Adult Food: Adults visit flowers only occasionally, but have been seen taking nectar at blackberry and red clover.
Habitat: Low, wet areas such as bogs, marshes, wet meadows, ponds.
Range: Maine west across southern Canada and the Great Lake states to eastern Montana and central Colorado; south to Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Maryland.
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.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Hyllolycaena hyllus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 121 - 144 of 1640 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 17, 2018
Submitted by: Kathleen Henning
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 19, 2018
Observation date: Sep 02, 2018
Submitted by: jkuehn
Region: Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 01, 2018
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Aug 23, 2018
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Jun 27, 2018
Submitted by: cjablonski
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2018
Observation date: Aug 14, 2018
Submitted by: BruceMissen
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 15, 2018
Observation date: Aug 08, 2018
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 19, 2018
Submitted by: edcope66
Region: Rock County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 13, 2018
Observation date: Jul 02, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 13, 2018
Observation date: Jul 04, 2018
Submitted by: Greg Sievert
Region: Lyon County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 07, 2018
Observation date: Jun 29, 2018
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Delaware County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 01, 2018
Observation date: Jun 30, 2018
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 01, 2018
Observation date: Jun 28, 2018
Submitted by: Emeilada
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 29, 2018
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: blueracer
Region: Ashland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 10, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 10, 2018
Observation date: Jun 04, 2018
Submitted by: edcope66
Region: Winnebago County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2018
Observation date: Sep 10, 2013
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 06, 2018
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Plessner
Region: Lucas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 21, 2018
Observation date: Jul 21, 2017
Submitted by: Lori Zebiere
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Dec 04, 2017
Observation date: Sep 24, 2017
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 21, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2016
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Washington County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 09, 2017
Observation date: Oct 04, 2017
Submitted by: Bkripto
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 21, 2016
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 05, 2017
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