The blue copper, also known as Lycaena heteronea, is an American butterfly that belongs to the gossamer-winged family. The butterfly is named so because of the bright blue hue of the upper side of the males' wings. Females are brown on their upper side. Both sexes are white with black spots on the underside of the wings. Blue coppers are seen on the west coast of the United States and the southwest region of Canada, particularly British Columbia and Alberta. The males are often confused with Boisduval’s blue ,[2] another species of butterfly. Blue coppers prefer to live in areas where species of Eriogonum are found. Blue copper larvae sometimes form mutualistic associations with Formica francoeuri, an ant species.
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^Article in Canadian Biodiversity Information Facilitity
The blue copper, also known as Lycaenaheteronea, is an American butterfly that belongs to the gossamer-winged family. The butterfly is named so because...
Lycaena is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in...
moths). An example of a butterfly that uses this plant for food is the Lycaenaheteronea. Several of these are monophagous, meaning their caterpillars only...
the United States. This butterfly's range is similar to that of the Lycaenaheteronea, especially in Alberta. It is listed as a species of special concern...
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