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Purplish Copper Butterfly

Lycaena helloides

Published on Project Noah
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50.1377, -119.512

Field Notes

Description:

Both photos 1 and 2 show the heavy spotting pattern of the upper wings of a Purplish Copper male. The purple sheen is not evident, probably because it is a very worn specimen.

Habitat:

grass field at Fintry Provincial Park, BC. Dry grassland interior by Okanagan Lake.

Notes:

Thanks to Greenbugs for the ID help! and the link.

Reference Links:

Copper Butterflies (Lycaeninae)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
KathleenMcEachern
Thanks Hema! It was one of those ephemeral moments in the sunshine with a butterfly and my camera....
KathleenMcEachern
Thanks for the ID help GreenBugs! I have decided on Purplish Copper because of the spotting pattern on the upper wings and the location of my spotting is also further north than the range of the Lilac Bordered Copper in the reference I am using, Butterflies of BC by Acorn and Sheldon. Do you see any other of my Unknown Butterflies which you can take out of that category?!
GreenBugs
Purplish Copper butterflies and Lilac Bordered butterflies look very similar...often it's a matter of geographical location, or comparing the number of spots on the top of the forewing to differential between them. In any event, it's one of the two species. http://greennature.com/article1967.html

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
The Pacific Northwest Bioregion
Mission
Moths and Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJune 30, 2014

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