Common copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

🦋 Common Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

The Common Copper is a small but fiery butterfly known for its bright orange wings and confident behavior. Despite its size, it’s a bold and energetic flyer, often defending its territory fiercely. Found across a wide range of habitats, it adds a spark of color to meadows, heaths, and gardens.

🔍 Identification

• Wingspan: 22–35 mm
• Upperwings:
  • Bright orange with dark brown borders
  • Forewings have small black spots
• Hindwings:
  • Brown with an orange border
• Underside:
  • Pale brown hindwings with dark spots
  • Orange forewings with fainter markings

Males and females are similar, but females may be slightly larger and more colorful.

🌍 Distribution & Habitat

• Range: Widespread across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and into North America
• Habitat:
  • Grassy meadows, heathlands, coastal dunes, wastelands, and gardens
  • Prefers areas with sunlight and low vegetation

🧬 Life Cycle

• Broods: Multiple broods per year (2–3 in most areas, more in warmer climates)
• Flight period: From April to October, depending on location and weather
• Host plants:
  • Primarily sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella) for caterpillars
• Eggs: Laid singly on host plants
• Caterpillars: Green with fine white hairs
• Pupae: Hidden near ground level

🌼 Behavior

• Flight: Low, fast, and darting — often chases away intruders from its territory
• Feeding:
  • Adults feed on nectar from flowers like thistles, dandelions, and buttercups
• Territorial: Males often perch in sunny spots, ready to defend their patch from rivals

🌟 Interesting Facts

• One of the most widespread and common coppers in its range
• Able to adapt to disturbed habitats, making it a resilient species
• In some areas, it may be the only copper species present, making it easy to identify

✅ Conservation Status

• Not threatened — considered stable and common in most of its range
• Benefited by wildflower-rich meadows and pollinator-friendly gardens

📌 Summary

The Common Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) is a feisty little butterfly with a lot of personality. Its vivid orange wings and territorial behavior make it a standout even among larger butterflies. A delightful sight in sunny open spaces, it’s a perfect ambassador for the charm of native pollinators.

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