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  • Lycaenidae
  • Lycaena
  • Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides)
Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), (Boisduval, 1852) - 4262.000000 - 770415.000000 - Special Concern

Wingspan: 2.4 to 3.2 cm.

Flight time: Double brooded with the first largely flying from late-May to early-June, and the second in early-July. Scattered individuals have been observed from early May to early September, suggesting presence of other partial broods in some seasons.

Status: Breeding resident.

Distinguishing features: Sexes are strongly dimorphic, with males being copper-brown above with a purplish iridescence, scattered black spots, and a band of orange spots on the hindwing margin. Females are orange with triangular black spots and gray margin on both upper fore and hindwing surfaces. Males of this and the bronze copper may be almost indistinguishable based on the upper wing surface. However, both sexes of the purplish copper have gray-orange under hindwing surfaces, with a margin of orange crescent-shaped spots on the outer margin.

Distribution and habitat: Scattered and rare throughout the northeastern third of the state, where it occurs in wet-mesic prairie, marshes, and wet meadows.

Natural History: Larvae consume a variety of dock (Rumex) and Knotweed (Polygonum) species. This is the most uncommon copper species in Iowa.


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Last updated on 2023-01-05 00:45:48
← Lycaena dione
Lycaena hyllus →
Photos
Records
Record # Date Locale State Lat/Lon Collected By Count
257386 2016-06-01 Louisa County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected IBSN 1
57832 1990-07-15 Buchanan County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Tim Orwig 1
57839 1989-05-31 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Jeff Nekola 1
57825 1989-05-28 Black Hawk County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Jeff Nekola 1
57838 1989-05-24 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Jeff Nekola 1
57824 1988-07-06 Black Hawk County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Dennis Schlicht 1
107398 1988-07-06 Butler County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Jeff Nekola 1
107395 1984-09-18 Page County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Schenum 1
107401 1980-07-22 Lyon County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected J Shelton 1
107400 1974-06-14 Osceola County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected J C Downey 1
57842 1971-07-01 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected S Miller 1
57844 1971-06-15 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected S Miller 1
57841 1971-05-29 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected S Miller 1
57843 1971-05-28 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected S Miller 1
57823 1970-09-02 Black Hawk County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected J C Downey 1
57830 1970-07-29 Hancock County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected J C Downey 1
57837 1970-07-02 Floyd County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected M C Christensen 1
57835 1970-07-01 Warren County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected D Alexander 1
57836 1970-07-01 Warren County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected D Alexander 1
57840 1967-06-02 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected J E Michael 1
57829 1966-06-23 Dickinson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected 1
57833 1963-08-17 Buena Vista County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Heitzman 1
107399 1961-07-01 Fayette County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Voss 1
57831 1960-08-07 Polk County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Ron Royer 1
144548 1957-10-19 Rock Island County, Illinois Illinois Location Protected Frank Olsen 1
144549 1957-10-19 Rock Island County, Illinois Illinois Location Protected Frank Olsen 1
4040 1950-07-01 Black Hawk County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4041 1950-07-01 Buchanan County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4042 1950-07-01 Buena Vista County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4043 1950-07-01 Clinton County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4044 1950-07-01 Dickinson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4045 1950-07-01 Fayette County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4046 1950-07-01 Floyd County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4047 1950-07-01 Grundy County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4048 1950-07-01 Hancock County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4049 1950-07-01 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4050 1950-07-01 Lyon County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4051 1950-07-01 Page County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4052 1950-07-01 Poweshiek County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4053 1950-07-01 Story County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
4054 1950-07-01 Warren County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected USGS - NPWRC 1
57826 1950-07-01 Dickinson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Lindsey 1
57827 1950-07-01 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Lindsey 1
57828 1950-07-01 Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Wickham 1
57834 1950-07-01 Story County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Lindsey 1
107396 1950-07-01 Poweshiek County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected Skinner 1
107397 1950-07-01 Poweshiek County, Iowa Iowa Location Protected 1

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