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 145 - 168 of 1237 verified sightings
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
Observation date: May 27, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 20, 2021
Observation date: Jul 18, 2015
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 03, 2021
Observation date: Apr 03, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Carbon County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Oct 04, 2020
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: flusteredfly
Region: Blaine County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 24, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau (Charlotte Martineau)
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 12, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Mineral County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Nov 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Nov 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Nov 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 19, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Saguache County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: nohatsplease
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 08, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Custer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Sep 22, 2020
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