Great Copper
Lycaena xanthoides (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Identification: Gray above with orange band and black spots along edge of hindwing. Below tan with black spots. Orange trim on hind trim on hindwing.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.3 - 4.4 cm).
Life History: Males perch and patrol flats and streambeds in search of receptive females.
Flight: May to mid-August, usually late May to mid-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Several dock species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open foothills and valleys.
Range: Southern Oregon south through westside California to extreme northern Baja California.
Conservation: None required, although range is being invaded by exotic European weeds that may reduce habitat suitability and availability. Subspecies obsolescens limited to Hunter Mountain in Death Valley National Monument is extremely limited in distribution.
NCGR: G-5. Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Subspecies obsolescens is ranked G5T1.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Gaeides xanthoides
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 238 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 19, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (C. L. Hageman)
Region: Colusa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jun 19, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (C. L. Hageman)
Region: Colusa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 25, 2010
Observation date: Jun 29, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Larry Orsak)
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: May 02, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Gary Felton)
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 22, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Larry Orsak)
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 11, 1963
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Keith S. Brown, Jr.)
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jun 20, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Apr 22, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jun 12, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jun 02, 1918
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jun 13, 1916
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jul 02, 1918
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jun 07, 1921
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: May 10, 1935
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (William H. Howe)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: May 10, 1935
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (William H. Howe)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1920
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (William H. Howe)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Jul 02, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John G. Pasko)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Jun 11, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 16, 2009
Observation date: Jun 21, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Jun 08, 2008
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 13, 2009
Observation date: Jun 28, 1986
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
Observation date: May 29, 1999
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
Observation date: Jun 18, 2006
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
Observation date: Jun 18, 2007
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Sep 24, 2009
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