Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

OTHER NAMES: American Copper, Common Copper
Latin Etymology: Lycaena (unclear) phlaeas ("to burn up")

Adult Small Copper (subspecies L. p. eleus) at Geddington, Northants - September 2010

Featured Subspecies: Lycaena phlaeas eleus
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 25-35mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

Thankyou to Paige Hunter for spotting this one for me! The small copper is an attractive small species related to the blues. It is found in a broad variety of habitats including woodland clearings, urban wasteland and heath. Note the lack of eyespots to differentiate it from other orange and brown species.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Lycaena
SUBSPECIES: L. p. hibernica, L. p. eleus, L. p. phlaeas, L. p. polaris, L. p. kamtschatica, L. p. ganalica, L. p. daimio, L. p. hypophlaeas, L. p. chinensis, L. p. oxiana, L. p. comedarum, L. p. stygiana, L. p. shima, L. p. pseudophlaeas, L. p. ethiopica, L. p. abbottii, L. p. flavens, L. p. coccinea, L.p. americana, L. p. arethusa, L. p. arctodon, L. p. feildeni, L. p. alpestris

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species

 - Seen in Geddington, Brigstock and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto