Bright Copper
Common NameBright Copper
Scientific NameLycaena xanthoides
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyLycaeninae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsorange, dark brown, black
HabitatDry grasslands, sagebrush steppes, open woodlands, foothills
Geographic RangeWestern North America (British Columbia south to California, east to Montana and Wyoming)
Host PlantsEriogonum spp.
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves or stems. Larvae are slug-like and feed on buckwheat, pupating on or near the host plant, with adults emerging in late spring to summer.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive large, bright copper-orange patches on a dark background on both upper and undersides of the wings, and its association with buckwheat plants in dry, open habitats.
Description
This small butterfly has dark brown to black upperwings boldly marked with large, bright orange-copper patches, while the underside features similar orange areas often with a greenish-brown wash.
