Purplish Copper
Lycaena helloides (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male brown with purple iridescence; female more orange. Hindwing of both sexes with broad orange band at margin.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch and sometimes patrol in low spots for females. Eggs are scattered at the base of the host plant or in litter beneath it. Eggs hibernate; caterpillars feed on leaves.
Flight: Three or four flights in lower elevation California. Two flights in many areas from May-July and from August-October. One flight at high altitude and far northern habitats from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Knotweeds (Polygonum) and docks (Rumex) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), cinquefoils in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including roadsides and open fields; wet meadows, marshes, streamsides, and valleys.
Range: Great Lakes area through the northern Midwest and northern plains to British Columbia, south to Baja California. Comments: The distinction between the Purplish Copper and the Dorcas Copper is blurred in the Rocky Mountains. These populations here are considered under the Purplish Copper.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 1234 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 26, 2017
Submitted by: mhearell
Region: Weber County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 18, 2023
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 27, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 26, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 19, 2023
Observation date: Aug 03, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Aug 02, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Aug 02, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Aug 02, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: Amanda and Graham
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: regina rochefort
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Harney County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: karin_k
Region: Island County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 16, 2022
Submitted by: COA1955
Region: Morgan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 05, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2021
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 03, 2023
Observation date: Nov 07, 2022
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: La Plata County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 19, 2023
Observation date: Sep 17, 2022
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jackson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jackson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: bvlusa
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2020
Submitted by: dbrudin
Region: Custer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
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