IDENTITY RECORD

Large Copper

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Lycaena dispar

DescrIption

A small butterfly in the Lycaenidae family, I measure between 15 and 20 mm. The underside of my wings is light blue-gray while the orange coloration of the topside of my wings has earned me the name “copper”.

Behavior

Diet

At the adult stage, I feed mostly on nectar from plants, while my caterpillar eats dock leaves, my host plant.

Reproduction

I lay my eggs on the leaves of different species of dock in the Rumex The incubation period lasts 5-18 days. My caterpillar spends the winter in a dried leaf.

Lifespan

At the butterfly stage, my life expectancy is no longer than 8-10 days.

Where and when can you find me in the reserve ?

Habitat

I live in wet meadows or wetlands where my host plant grows.

When to spot me

You can find me between May and July and August to September for my second generation.

Conservation status

• Red list of Rhopalocera in metropolitan France: Least Concern (LC).
• Red list of endangered Rhopalocera and Zygaena in Alsace: Near Threatened (NT).