Butterflies of
Europe
Purple-edged
Copper
Lycaena hippothoe
LINNAEUS, 1761
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
LYCAENINAE
Tribe - LYCAENINI
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Purple-edged
Copper
Lycaena hippothoe, male, Bükk hills, Hungary
© Peter Bruce-Jones |
Introduction
There are over 70 species of Copper butterfly in the genus
Lycaena, the vast majority of which
are found in the Holarctic region ( North America, Europe and the
part of Asia north of the Himalayas ). There are also however at
least 5 species in Africa including the Small Copper
Lycaena phlaeas, and several in the
Oriental region. Additionally there is a single species in Papua
New Guinea, and no less than 4 in New Zealand. Australia and South
America each have the great misfortune to have not even a single
species of this exquisite genus of butterflies.
All Lycaena
species are small and of similar shape, and all but a tiny handful
have a shimmering fiery copper sheen on their uppersides.
To be completed.
Habitats
To be completed.
Purple-edged
Copper
Lycaena hippothoe, male, Bükk hills, Hungary
© Peter Bruce-Jones
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
To be completed.
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