• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Gossamer-wing Butterflies
  • Harvesters
  • Coppers
  • Hairstreaks
  • Blues
• Coppers
  • American Copper
  • Gray Copper
  • Bronze Copper
  • Bog Copper
  • Dorcas Copper
  • Purplish Copper

American Copper

(Lycaena phlaeas)

The American Copper flies 1–2 feet off the ground in rather quick sorties from one nectar source or perch to another. Being only an inch in wingspan, the American Copper would seem to be a seldom-observed species, but its colorful coppery wings give away its position.

Identifying characteristics: Front wing above is orange with black spots and a grayish-black border. The hind wing above is mainly dark gray with an orange border. The front wing below is similar to the upper surface but a lighter shade of orange, while the hind wing below is a much lighter shade of gray with black dots throughout and a zigzag submarginal line.

Similar species: Bronze Coppers are much larger, up to 1.5 inches compared to the American’s wingspan of approximately one inch, and have a much wider orange band on the hind wings below. Purplish Coppers have a much wavier and thinner hind wing marginal orange band above

Habitat: Open areas, including lawns and old fields where its host plant, Sheep Sorrel grows.

Flight: Usually 3–4 broods per year, with the first occurring in late May or early June, and then lasting until October in some years

Abundance: Found throughout most of the state, except possibly the far north. American Coppers may become quite common under the right conditions.

Recent American Copper Sightings

Date seen	County	Reported by
Monday	Iowa	Ann Thering
05–10–2008	Sauk	Ann Thering and Dave Eide
05–04–2008	Iowa	Ann Thering and Dave Eide

Early American Copper sightings, all years

Date seen	County	Reported by
12–31–2003	Monroe	john and jane balaban
12–31–2003	Juneau	john and jane balaban
05–04–2008	Iowa	Ann Thering and Dave Eide
05–08–2007	Sauk	Ann Thering and David Eide
05–09–2007	Grant	Todd Sima
05–10–2008	Sauk	Ann Thering and Dave Eide

Submit a American Copper sighting »