Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea)

Widespread in the western US and into sw Canada in a variety of habitats and elevations with much variation and many named subspecies. Formerly treated as Lycaena heteronea.

Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea klotsi)
Rock Creek, Carbon Co., MT
23 July 2023


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea klotsi) Rock Creek, Carbon Co., MT 23 July 2023

		Males are bright blue above with black veins. In many populations, the underhindwings are nearly white with very faded spots, contrasting sharply with the bold spots in the underforewing.
Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 15 July 2013	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 15 July 2013


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 17 July 2013	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 17 July 2013


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014

		Females are blue-gray to coppery-brown dorsally.
Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 17 July 2013	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Morrell Lookout, Powell Co., MT 14 July 2015


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014

Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea)
Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
2 July 2014

This worn male is courting a disinterested female.

Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea)
Lemhi Pass, MT
20 July 2014


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 29 June 2015	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea heteronea) Lemhi Pass, MT 20 July 2014


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea) Red Mountain, Lewis and Clark Co., MT 15 July 2015	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea) Red Mountain, Lewis and Clark Co., MT 15 July 2015


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea) Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT 8 July 2015

Below are California Blue Coppers

Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea)
Just west of Sonora Pass, Tuolumne Co., CA
11 July 2007


Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea) Just west of Sonora Pass, Tuolumne Co., CA 11 July 2007	Blue Copper (Tharsalea heteronea) Just west of Sonora Pass, Tuolumne Co., CA 11 July 2007

Sulphur Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)
Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
15 July 2013

Sulphur Buckwheat is one of the caterpillar food plants for Blue Coppers.

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Created on ... Sep 5, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com