Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264
Lycaena mariposa
This record describes Lycaena mariposa (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar above to Bog, Lilac-bordered, Purplish, and Dorcas Coppers, but the margins (finges) are checkered. On the hind wing below the dark spot pattern is much stronger on a pale whitish, grayish, or brownish background; many of the spots tend to connect into wavy lines, and the dark spots often run together on the upper hind wing of the females as well.
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
Mountain meadows, particularly near forest edges.
Geographic Range
Western Mountains from s. Alaska, Yukon & Northwest Territories southward through western Canada and northwestern US to Wyoming, northern Utah, Idaho, and southern California (furthest south in the southern Sierra Nevada). Also isolated in Cypress Hills in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Seasonal Activity
Adults in a single brood in summer (mostly July & August).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Plants in the Heather family (Ericaceae), primarily (entirely?) species of Vaccinium . Perhaps (???) also Shrubby Cinquefoil - Dasiphora fruticosa - family Rosaceae.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lycaena mariposa. 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 Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264
What is Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264?
Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264 (Lycaena mariposa) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264?
Similar above to Bog, Lilac-bordered, Purplish, and Dorcas Coppers, but the margins (finges) are checkered. On the hind wing below the dark spot pattern is much stronger on a pale whitish, grayish, or brownish background; many of the spots tend to connect into wavy lines, and the dark spots often run together on the upper hind wing of the females as well.
Where is Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mountain meadows, particularly near forest edges. |
| Range | Western Mountains from s. Alaska, Yukon & Northwest Territories southward through western Canada and northwestern US to Wyoming, northern Utah, Idaho, and southern California (furthest south in the southern Sierra Nevada). Also isolated in Cypress Hills in Alberta and Saskatchewan. |
What does Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264 eat?
The diet of the Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264 includes Plants in the Heather family (Ericaceae), primarily (entirely?) species of Vaccinium . Perhaps (???) also Shrubby Cinquefoil - Dasiphora fruticosa - family Rosaceae..
When is Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264 active?
Mariposa Copper - Hodges#4264: seasonal activity - Adults in a single brood in summer (mostly July & August)..