Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254
Lycaena editha
This record describes Lycaena editha (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Lycaena xanthoides , which it replaces to the east. It is a smaller, but similar and more strongly patterned insect. Lycaena dione is again larger, with smaller spots below, and replaces this species to the east.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
- Subfamily
- Lycaeninae
- Genus
- Lycaena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly upland, often mountain areas.
Geographic Range
From the Rockies in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado to the Sierras in California.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Reported as Potentilla and Horkelia , both unusual for this subgenus.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lycaena editha. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254
What is Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254?
Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254 (Lycaena editha) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly upland, often mountain areas. |
| Range | From the Rockies in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado to the Sierras in California. |
What does Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254 eat?
The diet of the Edith's Copper - Hodges#4254 includes Reported as Potentilla and Horkelia , both unusual for this subgenus..