Wing span: 2.5-3.5 cm.

Flight time: Three broods; adults from the first flying from late April-early June; second from late June-early August, and third from late August through September.

Status: Breeding resident.

Distinguishing features: Adult top forewings are copper-colored with a dark brown margin and spots. The hindwing above is the opposite, being dark brown with a copper margin. The hindwing below is grayish with a wavy copper line in the margin.

Distribution and habitat: Scattered in the southeastern one-half of the state, where it occurs in a variety of dry, open, sandy habitats. It is particularly common in the sandy ground adjacent to the Iowa, Cedar, and Wapsipinicon rivers.

Natural History: Larvae feed on sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), a naturalized Eurasian pasture weed. This species also occurs in Europe. While native North American populations are known from the high arctic and western alpine tundra, our populations originated in Europe and were brought to eastern North America in hay during colonial times. Distinctive color-pattern morphs are known, such as the form fasciata shown in the photographic plate.