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 169 - 192 of 1237 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: EvSherr
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 26, 2020
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 30, 2020
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: Rozelle Wright
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Aug 10, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Jul 31, 2019
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2020
Observation date: Jul 10, 2020
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 27, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Meade County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 12, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: lewismagpie
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: maholyoak
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 19, 2020
Observation date: May 14, 2020
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 02, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2019
Submitted by: HimmelBerries
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: May 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Mar 27, 2020
Submitted by: Lemon_and_Licorice
Region: Butte County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 27, 2020
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