Winter Copper
Common NameWinter Copper
Scientific NameLycaena cupreus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyLycaeninae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, black, brown
HabitatOpen areas, subalpine meadows, forest clearings, moist fields
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to California and east to Montana and Wyoming
Host Plantsdock (Rumex spp.), knotweed (Polygonum spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to September (often two broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants, and the larvae feed on the leaves. Pupation occurs near the ground. The species overwinters as an egg or pupa, depending on the brood and geographic location.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive bright copper-orange upperside with a pattern of black spots and a dark margin. The underside is usually a duller orange or yellowish-orange with similar black spots, helping to distinguish it from other coppers.
Description
A small butterfly with bright copper-orange upperwings marked with prominent black spots and a dark brown border. The underside is typically paler, often yellowish-orange with similar black spots.
