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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 338 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 13, 2025
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 16, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 23, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2015
Submitted by: Birdlady6000
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 25, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 20, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2025
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Jefferson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 08, 2024
Observation date: Aug 11, 1988
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Hood River County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 31, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 03, 2024
Observation date: Aug 05, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Aug 07, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 21, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 08, 2023
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
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