Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Great Copper
Lycaena xanthoides (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Gray above with orange band and black spots along edge of hindwing. Below tan with black spots. Orange trim on hind trim on hindwing.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.3 - 4.4 cm).
Life History: Males perch and patrol flats and streambeds in search of receptive females.
Flight: May to mid-August, usually late May to mid-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Several dock species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open foothills and valleys.
Range: Southern Oregon south through westside California to extreme northern Baja California.
Conservation: None required, although range is being invaded by exotic European weeds that may reduce habitat suitability and availability. Subspecies obsolescens limited to Hunter Mountain in Death Valley National Monument is extremely limited in distribution.
NCGR: G-5. Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Subspecies obsolescens is ranked G5T1.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Gaeides xanthoides

Verified Sightings

Displaying 1 - 24 of 213 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: asabspade
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
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Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
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Observation date: Jun 30, 2020
Submitted by: butterflies4us
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
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Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2020
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Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 03, 2020
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Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 24, 2019
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Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: shastamax
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 2019
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Observation date: Jul 26, 2019
Submitted by: kcearlock
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
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Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2019
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Observation date: Aug 11, 2018
Submitted by: Scott Burgess
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2019
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Observation date: May 29, 2015
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2019
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Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 27, 2019
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Observation date: Aug 01, 2016
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2016
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Observation date: Jul 28, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2016
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Observation date: Jul 03, 2016
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2016
  Details
Observation date: Jul 03, 2016
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2016
  Details
Observation date: Jun 10, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
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Observation date: Jun 12, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
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Observation date: May 19, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 23, 2016
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Observation date: Jun 06, 2015
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 09, 2015
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Observation date: Jun 06, 2015
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2015
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Observation date: May 10, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 26, 2014
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Observation date: Jun 26, 2013
Submitted by: Finatic02
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 18, 2014
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Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 20, 2014
  Details