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 121 - 144 of 1234 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2021
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 01, 2021
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Jul 21, 2021
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 29, 2021
Observation date: Aug 12, 2021
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Aug 24, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Aug 24, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2011
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Aug 18, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 12, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: Artemisia
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 18, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2021
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Powell County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Oct 20, 2020
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 26, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2021
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