Gorgon Copper
Lycaena gorgon (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Upperside of male coppery brown with bright reddish purple tinge; female dark brown with cream and black spots. Upperside of female hindwing with row of orange crescents next to row of small back spots. Underside of both sexes gray with black spots; hindwing with submarginal row of red-orange spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch and patrol for females near host plants. Eggs are laid singly on host flower stalks and hatch the next spring. Caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: One flight from May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) including Eriogonum species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Sage scrub, chaparral, foothill woodland, rocky hills and outcrops.
Range: Southern Oregon through California to Baja California.
Conservation: Not usually required. Some colonies lost to development and others degraded from effects of exotic grasses and other weeds.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might 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 49 - 72 of 224 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 14, 2015
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2015
Observation date: May 08, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 15, 2015
Observation date: May 09, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2015
Observation date: May 09, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2015
Observation date: May 03, 2015
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2015
Observation date: May 24, 2014
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2014
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 09, 2014
Observation date: Jun 11, 2013
Submitted by: Mic
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2013
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Bruun)
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 15, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 12, 1942
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 20, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 21, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 12, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 20, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William Bouton)
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 07, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Kelson)
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: May 28, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 15, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 25, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 18, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 15, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 18, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 15, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
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