The Simple Ones

Males and Females Large and Gray-Brown

Two Species with Tails

Difficult Species

THE SIMPLE ONES

Lycaena phlaeas American Copper	Lycaena cupreus Lustrous Copper
Lycaena hyllus Bronze Copper	Male Bright Rusty Red Lycaena rubidus Ruddy Copper
Lycaena heteronea Blue Copper	Lycaena epixanthe Bog Copper

MALES AND FEMALES LARGE AND GRAY BROWN

Range mostly midwestern and northern United States and midwestern Canada; orange on upper and lower sides of hindwing more extensive; dots on lower side of hindwing jet black Lycaena dione Gray Copper

Range California and Oregon; orange on upper and lower sides of hindwing less extensive; dots on lower side of hindwing filled with dark gray-green Lycaena xanthoides Great Copper

TWO SPECIES WITH TAILS

Male forewing rusty brown with a purplish reflection; hindwing margin near triangular tail with black spots; range not restricted to extreme southern California. Lycaena arota Tailed Copper

Male brown with yellow patches; no black spots on the hindwing margin near the triangular tail; restricted to extreme southern California and Baja California. Lycanea hermes Hermes Copper

DIFFICULT SPECIES

Hindwing mottled gray-brown, but spots small and not outstanding and without a distinct pale postmedial band. Lycaena mariposa Mariposa Copper	Handwing mottled gray-broswn, with distinct large spots and with a distinct pale postmedial band. Lycaena editha Edith's Copper
This species is very close to Lycaena helloides. Lycaena dorcas is primarily boreal, helloides more southern and western. In the Rocky Mountains the two "species" hybridize freely and the hybrids are arbitrarily assigned to dorcas. In Michigan and Wisconsin the two are distinct and in this region helloides is the larger species, the males are slightly lighter, and the light areas of the female more prominent. Lycaena dorcas Dorca's Copper	This species is very close to Lycaena helloides. Lycaena dorcas is primarily boreal, helloides more southern and western. In the Rocky Mountains the two "species" hybridize freely and the hybrids are arbitrarily assigned to dorcas. In Michigan and Wisconsin the two are distinct and in this region helloides is the larger species, the males are slightly lighter, and the light areas of the female more prominent. Lycaena helloides Purplish Copper
Very similar to Lycaena helloides and occurring with it in the west. Underside of hindwing tan-yellow with outer third iridescent pink. The Lycaena nivalis male is brighter above. Lycaena nivalis Lilac-bordered Copper	Underside of hindwing gray-white with a series of black spots and a postmedial row of orange-red spots. Lycaena gorgon Gorgon Copper