Small Copper
Lycaena phlaeas
This record describes Lycaena phlaeas (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The Small Copper is a small, fast flying butterfly that, once settled, is unmistakable with its bright copper-coloured forewings. This butterfly favours open land where nectar sources and food plant are found. Such habitats include grassland, wasteland, heathland, old quarries, embankments, road verges and woodland rides. There are typically 2 or 3 generations each year, depending on the weather, with 4 generations in extremely good years. The first adults emerge in May, occasionally at the end of April, with the last adults being seen around the middle of October, depending on location. The main larval foodplants are Common Sorrel ( Rumex acetosa ) and Sheep's Sorrel ( Rumex acetosella ) though Broad-leaved Dock ( Rumex obtusifolius ) is also used. It overwinters in the larval stage and pupates in April. This butterfly occurs in discrete colonies throughout the British Isles.
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Lycaena phlaeas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycaena phlaeas.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Lycaeninae
- Tribe
- Lycaenini
- Genus
- Lycaena (Lycaena butterflies)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This butterfly favours open land where nectar sources and food plant are found. Such habitats include grassland, wasteland, heathland, old quarries, embankments, road verges and woodland rides.
Seasonal Activity
April/May to October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
There are typically 2 or 3 generations each year, depending on the weather, with 4 generations in extremely good years. The first adults emerge in May, occasionally at the end of April, with the last adults being seen around the middle of October, depending on location. The main larval foodplants are Common Sorrel (
Additional species information
Recorded status
This butterfly occurs in discrete colonies throughout the British Isles.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lycaena phlaeas. 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 Small Copper (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Copper
What is Small Copper?
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Small Copper?
22mm to 28mm (0.86" to 1.10")
Where is Small Copper found?
Habitat: This butterfly favours open land where nectar sources and food plant are found. Such habitats include grassland, wasteland, heathland, old quarries, embankments, road verges and woodland rides.
When is Small Copper active?
Small Copper: seasonal activity - April/May to October..
What is the life cycle of a Small Copper?
There are typically 2 or 3 generations each year, depending on the weather, with 4 generations in extremely good years. The first adults emerge in May, occasionally at the end of April, with the last adults being seen around the middle of October, depending on location. The main larval foodplants are Common Sorrel (