Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Lycaenidae

     Lycaena arota
     Tailed Copper


male upperside
male underside
female upperside
female underside

Size: wingspread 1-1.25 in.
Recognition: Male is brown with faint purplish iridescence, with short orange tail; female is brown with yellow areas in FW and orange markings along bottom of HW.
Flight period: Adults are active from late May to July.
Hostplants: The larvae feed on wild currants and gooseberries (Ribes - Grossulariaceae).
Habitat: They are found in foothill forests and canyons.
Distribution: The Tailed Copper occurs from southwestern Oregon south to Baja California, and east into Utah and New Mexico.

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