Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Lycaenidae

     Lycaena helloides
     Purplish Copper


male upperside
male underside
female upperside
female underside

Size: wingspread 1-1.5 in.
Recognition: Small; male is purplish-brown with darker wing edges and spots; with row of orange crescents on HW; female is light brown, with black and lighter spots; underside light gray to pale yellow, with black spots, and faint orange crescents at edge of HW.
Flight period: Adults are active from March to November.
Hostplants: The larvae feed on a few plants in the buckwheat family (Rumex and Polygonum) as well as cinquefoils (Rosaceae).
Habitat: They are found along streamsides and wet meadows of low to middle elevations.
Distribution: The Purplish Copper occurs over much of the western U.S., extending east in southern Canada and the Midwest states.

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