Lilac-bordered Copper
Lycaena nivalis (Boisduval, 1869)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male coppery brown with red-orange sheen; females brown to orange. Underside yellow or cream with a pink-purple tinge toward the outer edge.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 3/8 inches (2.5 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch in hollows in open areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on or near base of host plant; hibernate until the next spring. Caterpillars feed on leaves.
Flight: One flight from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Douglas\' knotweed (Polygonum douglasii) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open forest, sagebrush hillsides near streams, rocky valley floors.
Range: British Columbia south and east to central California, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 378 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: angela.laws
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 23, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Boise County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Aug 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: Sue Elwell
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 17, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2006
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 11, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Rich County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: merops
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 23, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Eagle County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 04, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 19, 2023
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