Small Copper

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Small Copper

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Lycaena
Species: L. phlaeas
Binomial name
Lycaena phlaeas
(Linnaeus, 1761)
Small Copper
Small Copper

The Small Copper or the Common Copper, Lycaena phlaeas. is a butterfly of the Lycaenids or Blues family.

Contents

[edit] Systematics

Lycaena phlaeas belongs to the subgenus Thersamolycaena of the genus Lycaena. The species is in turn divided into several subspecies:

  • Lycaena phlaeas phlaeas
  • Lycaena phlaeas chinensis
  • Lycaena phlaeas flavens
  • Lycaena phlaeas ethiopica
  • Lycanea phlaeas pseudophlaeas
  • Lycaena phlaeas coccinea
  • Lycaena phlaeas daimio
  • Lycaena phlaeas kamtschatica
  • Lycaena phlaeas oxiana
  • Lycaena phlaeas comedarum
  • Lycaena phlaeas stygiana
  • Lycaena phlaeas polaris
  • Lycaena phlaeas ganalica
  • Lycaena phlaeas americana
  • Lycaena phlaeas arethusa
  • Lycaena phlaeas arctodon
  • Lycaena phlaeas feildeni
  • Lycaena phlaeas abbotti
  • Lycaena phlaeas shima

[edit] Appearance and behaviour

A common and widespread little butterfly easily identifiable in the UK. (There are similar species in continental Europe). The upperside forewings are a bright orange with a dark outside edge border and with eight or nine black spots. The hindwings are dark with an orange border. Some females also have a row of blue spots inside the orange border and are known as form caeruleopunctata The undersides are pattenered in a similar way but are paler. The black spots on the forewings are outlined in yellow and the dark colouring is replaced by a pale brownish, gray. The hindwings are the same brown/grey colour with small black dots and a narrow orange border. The larva varies in colour, usually green but sometimes with a purple stripe down the middle of the back and along each side.

In bright sun it is a very active little butterfly with the males setting up small territories which they will defend vigorously against rival males or indeed any unlucky passing insect. Even the shadow of a large bird passing overhead is enough to get him going. Females are pursued mercilessly and mating usually occurs low down in vegetation.

[edit] Distribution and habitat

It is found in a wide variety range of habitats from chalk downlands, heathland, woodland clearings to churchyards and waste ground in cities and can be found almost anywhere in south/central England and Wales although never, it seems, in large numbers. Its distribution becomes more patchy in northern England, Scotland and Ireland. It is widespread and common across Europe, Asia and North America, and also found in North Africa.

[edit] Life cycle and ecology

Depending on the habitat Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) are the two main foodplants although other Docks (Rumex) species are occasionally used. The eggs are laid singly on the underside of foodplant leaves and the young larvae feeds on the underside of the leaf creating "windows" by leaving the upper epidermis of the leaf untouched. Pupation takes place in the leaf litter and the pupa is thought to be tended by ants. There are between two and three broods a year, fewer the further north you go. In exceptionally good years a fourth brood sometimes occurs in the south and adults can still be seen flying into November. The butterfly overwinters as a larva.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Asher, Jim et al The Atlas of Butterflies of Britain and Ireland Oxford University Press.
  • Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
  • Gaonkar, Harish (1996) Butterflies of the Western Ghats, India (including Sri Lanka) - A Biodiversity Assessment of a threatened mountain system. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.
  • Gay, Thomas; Kehimkar, Isaac & Punetha, J.C.(1992) Common Butterflies of India. WWF-India and Oxford University Press, Mumbai, India.
  • Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History.
  • Kunte, Krushnamegh (2005) Butterflies of Peninsular India. Universities Press.
  • Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.