Great Copper
Common NameGreat Copper
Scientific NameLycaena xanthoides
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyLycaeninae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorsgrayish-brown, black, orange
HabitatDry grasslands, sagebrush flats, chaparral, open areas
Geographic RangeWestern North America (California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona)
Host PlantsEriogonum species
Flight PeriodMay to July
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants and are the overwintering stage. Larvae feed on buckwheat leaves, and pupation occurs near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive pale grayish-brown underside with numerous black spots and the subtle orange submarginal band on the hindwing, especially in dry, open habitats of Western North America.
Description
A small butterfly with pale grayish-brown undersides heavily marked with small black spots and a faint orange submarginal band on the hindwings.
