Bog Copper - Hodges#4260
Lycaena epixanthe
This record describes Lycaena epixanthe (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Resembles Dorcas and Purplish Coppers, but smaller and has paler yellowish to whitish (not orange) under side. The upper side appears plainer, especially in males, which show fewer and mostly much smaller dark spots, while females show little or no orange pattern above.
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
Bogs
Geographic Range
Wisconsin and Manitoba east to Newfoundland, New Jersey, south to Virginia
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Craberries ( Vaccinium macrocarpon, V. oxycoccos , and perhaps others)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lycaena epixanthe. 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 Bog Copper - Hodges#4260 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joel Kits; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Bog Copper - Hodges#4260
What is Bog Copper - Hodges#4260?
Bog Copper - Hodges#4260 (Lycaena epixanthe) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Bog Copper - Hodges#4260?
Resembles Dorcas and Purplish Coppers, but smaller and has paler yellowish to whitish (not orange) under side. The upper side appears plainer, especially in males, which show fewer and mostly much smaller dark spots, while females show little or no orange pattern above.
Where is Bog Copper - Hodges#4260 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Bogs |
| Range | Wisconsin and Manitoba east to Newfoundland, New Jersey, south to Virginia |
What does Bog Copper - Hodges#4260 eat?
The diet of the Bog Copper - Hodges#4260 includes Larvae feed on Craberries ( Vaccinium macrocarpon, V. oxycoccos , and perhaps others).