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 226 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 01, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 29, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
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Observation date: Jun 09, 2022
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
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Observation date: Jun 05, 2022
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2022
  Details
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
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Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 30, 2021
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Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
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Observation date: Jul 11, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
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Observation date: Jul 11, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
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Observation date: Jun 25, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
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Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
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Observation date: May 31, 2021
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2021
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Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2021
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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
  Details
Observation date: Aug 11, 2018
Submitted by: Scott Burgess
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 29, 2019
  Details
Observation date: May 29, 2015
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2019
  Details