Species Lycaena mariposa - Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264

Classification · Hodges Number · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Internet References

Mariposa Copper - Lycaena mariposa - male

Edith's Copper (Lycaena editha)? - Lycaena mariposa - male

Lycaena 8-02-09 02 - Lycaena mariposa - female

There was also a cute little butterfly - Lycaena mariposa

Lilac-bordered Copper? - Lycaena mariposa

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)

Family Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)

Subfamily Lycaeninae (Coppers)

Genus Lycaena

Species mariposa (Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264)

Hodges Number

4264

Identification

Similar above to Bog, Lilac-bordered, Purplish, and Dorcas Coppers, but the margins (finges) are checkered. On the hind wing below the dark spot pattern is much stronger on a pale whitish, grayish, or brownish background; many of the spots tend to connect into wavy lines, and the dark spots often run together on the upper hind wing of the females as well.

Range

Western Mountains from s. Alaska, Yukon & Northwest Territories southward through western Canada and northwestern US to Wyoming, northern Utah, Idaho, and southern California (furthest south in the southern Sierra Nevada). Also isolated in Cypress Hills in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Habitat

Mountain meadows, particularly near forest edges.

Season

Adults in a single brood in summer (mostly July & August).

Food

Plants in the Heather family (Ericaceae), primarily (entirely?) species of Vaccinium. Perhaps (???) also Shrubby Cinquefoil - Dasiphora fruticosa - family Rosaceae.

Internet References

Butterflies of America

Butterflies of Canada

Butterflies and Moths of North America

Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 9 August, 2005 - 9:13am
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz, David Ferguson
Last updated 2 July, 2017 - 7:49am

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