American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas, Lycaena phlaeas)

Locally common in the NC mountains and known from a few scattered localities in the piedmont and sandhills, this species has 3 broods in NC. It may be found off and on from March to November. Whether it's truly native to NC is still somewhat controversial. Recent genomics evidence suggests the North American populations are separate species from old world populations (Lycaena phlaeas), hence my treatment here as Lycaena hypophlaeas

American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas)
Ashe Co., NC
29 Apr 2007

American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas)
Moore Co., NC
10 June 2006

American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas)
Alleghany Co., NC
1 July 2006


American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) Alleghany Co., NC 1 July 2006	American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) Alleghany Co., NC 1 July 2006

American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas)
Kankakee Sands, Newton Co., IN
30 July 2015


American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) Kankakee Sands, Newton Co., IN 30 July 2015	American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) Kankakee Sands, Newton Co., IN 30 July 2015


American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) Kankakee Sands, Newton Co., IN 30 July 2015


American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) Allegan Co., MI 5 July 2004	American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) Van Buren Co., MI 2 July 2004

Red Dock, Sheep Sorrel, Sour-grass (Rumex acetosella)
Caswell Co., NC
17 June 2006

Rumex acetosella is one of the food plants for American Copper caterpillars.

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... July 18, 2004 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com