| Large Copper (Lycaena dispar (Haworth, 1802)) |
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Scientific name: Lycaena dispar (Haworth, 1802) Common name: Large Copper French name: Cuivré des marais, Grand cuivré Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Rhopalocera Family: Lycaenidae Subfamily: Lycaeninae Wingspan: 34-40 mm. Females are larger than males. Butterflies of the second brood are smaller. Biotope: Marshes, water meadows. Geographic area: Isolated areas located in the northern part of the Palaearctic region. This species has been extinct in the United Kingdom since 1864 (large size subspecies Lycaena dispar dispar ). You can find subspecies Lycaena dispar batava in the Netherlands where it is declining. Populations of the Lycaena dispar rutila subspecies are found in France, Germany, the Baltic countries and the Balkans. Flight time: Mid May to late June, then late July to September. Number of generations : 2 for the Lycaena dispar rutila subspecies. Caterpillar: Green with small white dots. Half grown caterpillars of the second brood over winter in rolled-up leaves. They can survive during long periods under water. Host plant: Docks (Rumex sp). |
The upper side of the male Large Copper's wings is bright reddish orange with a thin black marginal border. There is a black comma-shaped discoidal mark on the fore wings. The upper side of the female's wings is a duller orange colour. The marginal border is wider and not so dark. It shows two black discoidal patches and an row of black postdiscal marks. The under side of the wings is similar on both sexes. The under side of the fore wings is an orange colour with three black discoidal patches and a row of black white-circled postdiscal marks. The under side of the hind wings is a very typical bluish grey colour. There are some black dots and an orange margin which is variable. |
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View of the upper side of the wings of a male Large Copper. |
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I have observed this female of the second brood in a water meadow of the Basse Vallée du Doubs in France, just a few hundreds of meters from the farm where I have spent my youth. |
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This other water meadow, a little further, has been damaged by gravel excavation activities. I have slightly changed my mind on this subject because the digged lake, with now wild banks, seems to be appreciated by birds. The banks covered with plants and flowers are also a good place to observe butterflies and dragonflies. |
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View of the under side of the wings of a male Large Copper. |
André Bon January 2012