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 193 - 216 of 1237 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 11, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 11, 2020
Observation date: Aug 21, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 31, 2020
Observation date: Sep 06, 2019
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
Observation date: Sep 11, 2019
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 07, 2019
Observation date: Oct 24, 2019
Submitted by: Kerry Turley
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 29, 2019
Observation date: Oct 24, 2019
Submitted by: Nancy Asquith
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 25, 2019
Observation date: Sep 13, 2019
Submitted by: DebraRade
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Sep 22, 2019
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 02, 2019
Observation date: Sep 14, 2019
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Madison County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 23, 2019
Observation date: Sep 12, 2019
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Sep 12, 2019
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2019
Observation date: Sep 07, 2019
Submitted by: flyillusions
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 10, 2019
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 28, 2019
Observation date: Aug 10, 2019
Submitted by: Silverity
Region: Cowlitz County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 14, 2019
Observation date: Aug 08, 2019
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Skamania County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
Observation date: Jul 30, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2019
Observation date: Jun 22, 2019
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 27, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
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