For the correct determination of Coppers (Lycaeninae), a subfamily of the Gossamer-wing butterflies (Lycaenidae), it is important to pay close attention to the darkness of the wings. This is particularly important in females, who are sometimes difficult to recognise. Butterflies are often fiery red at the top of the wings, and in many species, there is a violet glow present.
Genus: Lycaena
Small Copper – 2016 (NL)
(NCBI-index: 282391)
The Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) is a butterfly that flies around in three generations throughout the year, from late April to late June, from late June to early October, and from early September to late October. Males are territorial, often choosing a piece of bare ground or a stone awaiting passing females. They behave aggressively towards any passing insects, returning to the same spot when the chase is over. Identification is relatively straightforward, with the top of the hindwing being light grey or dark (summer brood) with an orange-red band in the marginal area. The top of the forewing is orange-red with black dots and a dark termen. The wingspan is 32-35 mm. Host plant: Sorrel. Dutch name: Kleine vuurvlinder. Frisian name: Lytse fjoerflinter.
Flying period:
Genus: Lycaena
Sooty Copper – 2017 (NL)
(NCBI-index: 266947)
The Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus) is a rare butterfly found in the Netherlands. This butterfly flies around in one or more generations from April to October. The top of the forewing for the male is brown with black spots, and the female shows a more orange-yellow pattern. The hindwing is brown with black dots for both. The fringes are intensely white. The underside of both wings is grey, showing black dots and orange moon spots close to the termen. The female has an orange glow at the bottom of the forewing, which is missing from the male. Host plant: Sorrel. Dutch name: Bruine vuurvlinder. Frisian name: Brune fjoerflinter.
Flying period:
Genus: Lycaena
Purple-edged Copper – 2023 (DE)
(NCBI-index: 2.505786)
In the Netherlands, the Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) has not been a resident butterfly since 1946, making it the first butterfly species to be declared extinct. That is why I travelled separately to Germany to see this species. The upperside of the male’s forewing and hindwing is dark orange with a red-violet sheen. In the female, the upper side of the forewing is dull orange with brown spots. The regular row of submarginal and postdiscal spots is characteristic. The upper side of the hindwing is brown with an orange band along the trailing edge. The spots on the underside of the hindwing are as small as or slightly smaller than those on the forewing, and only the hindwing sometimes has an incomplete orange band along the trailing edge. In males, there is a noticeable purple tinge along the leading edge on the upper side of the forewing as well as on the upper side of the hindwing below the midcell. The flight period is in one generation from the beginning of June to the end of July, and the wingspan is 34-38 mm. Host plant: Sorrel. Dutch name: Rode vuurvlinder. Frisian name: Reade fjoerflinter.
Flying period:
Genus: Lycaena
Violet Copper – 2023 (BE)
(NCBI-index: 2.795559)
A very beautiful but so small butterfly that you can hardly discover it. The Violet Copper (Lycaena helle) is very distinctive, and it is almost impossible to confuse it with other coppers. The violet sheen over the orange and black parts on the top of the wings is striking and visible, especially in the male. The female is somewhat larger and strongly marked, and the violet sheen is limited or sometimes absent. The submarginal band on the hindwing is bright orange. The underside of the forewing is orange with black spots, with the spots in a row in the outer zone and white on the inside. The underside of the hindwing is brown with a clear orange band in the outer zone that is bordered on the inside by black spots outlined in white. The flight period spans one generation, from May to the end of July, and the wingspan measures 24-26 mm. Host plant: Bistort. Dutch name: Blauwe vuurvlinder. Frisian name: Blaue fjoerflinter.
Flying period:
Genus: Lycaena
Scarce Copper – 2024 (CH)
(NCBI-index: 547582)
The upperside of the male wings of the Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) is shiny orange. The upperside of the female’s wings is orange with a clear, black pattern. The underside of the hindwing is orange-grey with a few black dots and a few white spots. These white spots are a characteristic feature that does not occur in other copper. For this strikingly brightly coloured butterfly, you must go to Central Europe, which has its habitat in flowery, fairly moist grasslands and wooded areas. The flight period spans one generation, from July to September, depending on altitude and location. The wingspan is 34-38 mm. Host plant: Field Sorrel, Sheep’s Sorrel. Dutch name: Morgenrood. Frisian name: –
Flying period:
Genus: Lycaena
Purple-shot Copper – 2025 (IT)
(NCBI-index: 282377)
For some butterflies, you learn to recognise the differences or how best to photograph them. For the Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron), I was told to carefully create shadows with my hand to get it to spread its wings. As soon as you let the sun shine on the butterfly again by removing your hand, you have to take a picture quickly. This way, you can photograph the violet sheen of the male’s upperside. You have to react quickly, though, because he will promptly close his wings again. There are two subspecies in France: alciphron (the nominate form) and gordius (the southern subspecies). The male alciphron has a violet sheen across its entire upperside, giving the species its name. The female is essentially dark brown, with the usual coppery-black markings in the cell and post-discal areas, and characteristic orange moon spots. Females have a more curved shape at the base of the hindwing (compared to the slightly squarer shape of the male). The male gordius has less conspicuous black spots, which are purple mainly on the upperside, but without the overall purple sheen of alciphron. The female is quite different from the nominate alciphron. It is quite large and bright, with a pattern much more like that of the male, but without the purple sheen. It sometimes has blue centres to the submarginal black spots. The underside of the female has a very attractive orange forewing and grey hindwing with an orange edge. The male appears to have less orange on the forewing, but the undersides of both sexes are pretty variable. The flight period spans one generation, from June to July, and the wingspan ranges from 27 to 33 mm. Host plant: Sorrel. Dutch name: Violette vuurvlinder. Frisian name: –
Flying period:
