Lycaena dorcas

Lycaena dorcas
Two males
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Lycaena
Species:	L. dorcas
Binomial name
Lycaena dorcas (Kirby, 1837)

Lycaena dorcas is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, the gossamer-winged butterflies. Its common names include dorcas copper and cinquefoil copper. The species was first described by William Kirby in 1837. It is native to North America. The species L. dospassosi was once included in L. dorcas.

Description

The top side is brown. The male has a blue-purple iridescence and the female has a few lighter areas. The male is similar in coloration to that of L. helloides. The hindwings have red-orange spots on the border. The underside is brown with a slight orange tint. The wingspan is 2.5–3.2 cm (0.98–1.26 in). The caterpillar is pale green with a single dark green dorsal line and faint white bands.

Range and habitat

L. dorcas occurs as far north as boreal Alaska and south to Washington in the west and the Great Lakes region in the east. There is an isolated population in Maine. Its habitat includes bogs and old overgrown fields.

Life cycle

There is one flight between June and September. The male stays near the host plant to seek females. The females lay white eggs singly on the undersides of the leaves. The eggs drop with the leaves in autumn and overwinter. The caterpillars hatch in spring and return to the host plant to feed.

Larval host plants include Potentilla fruticosa and species of Rumex and Polygonum.

References

• Savela, Markku, ed. (June 9, 2020). "Lycaena dorcas Kirby, 1837". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
• McLeod, Robin (July 3, 2019). "Species Lycaena dorcas - Dorcas Copper - Hodges#4261". BugGuide. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
• Schmidt, B. C. "Species Details Lycaena dorcas". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
• Lotts, Kelly & Naberhaus, Thomas (2017). "Dorcas Copper Lycaena dorcas (W. Kirby, 1837)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
• Kaufman, Kenn; Brock, Jim P. (2003). "Gossamer-winged Butterflies". Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin Books. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-618-76826-4.