Mariposa Copper
Lycaena mariposa (Reakirt, 1866)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male iridescent purple with black borders and pale markings; female yellow-orange with more distinctive markings. Underside hindwing of both sexes is mottled gray.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.9 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch in low spots to watch for females.
Flight: One flight from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Vaccinium arbuscula in California, and other plants of the heath family (Ericaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Forest openings and bogs where host plants grow.
Range: Southern Alaska south along the Rocky Mountains to Wyoming; Washington, central Oregon, northeastern California.
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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 306 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: fidgetyknits
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 19, 2023
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region:
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 05, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 02, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region:
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 16, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: BarryN
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 31, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 25, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: elizas
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Granite County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2018
Submitted by: Gerry Rawcliffe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 06, 2017
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2017
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2017
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 19, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 21, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2019
Submitted by: Aat
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2019
Submitted by: Aat
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Scott Denkers
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Andrew Bryant
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 07, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
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