An Oregon Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association

 

Anise Swallowtail by Rick Ahrens

Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea)

Photo by Alison Center

Species Characteristics:
See page 28 of Butterflies of Lane County, A pocket guide to the 85 regularly occurring species of Lane County, Oregon.

Wingspan: 1 1/8 – 1 ¼ inches

Description: Male (featured) is bright sky-blue with distinctive black veins; female grey-blue or
slate grey with dark spots and soft brown shading. Both sexes below nearly white with black spots on FW;HW variable, with or without blurred darker spots.

Abundance: Locally abundant at higher elevations. Flies early July to early September; peaks in July.

Host Plant: Buckwheats

Comment: Males will often return to the same perch after being disturbed. The Blue Copper flies more aggressively than blues.