Tailed Copper
Common NameTailed Copper
Scientific NameLycaena arota
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyLycaeninae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, gray, orange, black, white
HabitatArid and semi-arid regions, often near streams or moist areas where host plants grow, including chaparral, open woodlands, and canyons.
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south through the western United States to Baja California, and east to parts of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Host PlantsEriogonum species (buckwheats)
Flight PeriodJune to August, sometimes into September, depending on the region.
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on the leaves or stems of host plants. Larvae are green and feed on the leaves. The species overwinters as an egg.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive short tail on the hindwings and the mottled gray-brown underside with an orange submarginal band. Often found near its buckwheat host plants.
Description
A small butterfly with a mottled brown and gray underside, featuring an orange submarginal band and a distinct, short tail on each hindwing. The upperside (not visible) is typically coppery orange with dark spots.
