Observation date: September 03, 2021
Submitted by: taogirl
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: There were hundreds if not more of these butterflies around the vastly reduced reservoir. They were flying among the plants that sprung up from the former floor of the reservoir.
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: November 02, 2021
Coordinator notes: The Purplish Copper...a male from the late summer flight about finished. There may have been another in late Sept. to early October if you checked this site again? Three to four flights at lower altitude. Dorcas Copper does not occur in Colorado, only in more northern latitude and a bog obligate. At higher altitude in Colorado we have the Forest Copper (Lycaena florus). These look similar to the Purplish Copper and hybridize with each other in some places in the middle elevation. Some students want to ignore separate species status but the two have entirely different hosts, habitats and immature stages (florus feeds on Ericaceae plants only (Blueberry family) while helloides uses Polygonaceae plants (Dock, Sorrel, Knotweed)...one certainly the host at Fruit Growers Reservoir. Mike
