butterflies
Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...
. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipodolycaena''. Many formerly independent genera are now subsumed within ''Lycaena''; the genus ''Gaiedes'' may also belong here. Many of the subgenera, species groups and species listed here may be
synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
s.
Species
Listed alphabetically within groups:''Lycaena'' funet.fi
Subgenus ''Tharsalea'' Scudder, 1876:
*'' Lycaena arota'' (Boisduval, 1852) – tailed copper
Subgenus ''Chalceria'' Scudder, 1876:
The ''thaeides'' species group:
*''
Lycaena dione
''Lycaena dione'', the grey copper or great copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by Samuel Hubbard Scudder in 1868. It is found from the southern Prairie provinces of Canada and western Ontario south ...
'' (Scudder, 1868)
*'' Lycaena editha'' (Mead, 1878) – Edith's copper California, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada
*'' Lycaena gorgon'' (Boisduval, 1852) – gorgon copper Nevada, California, Oregon
*'' Lycaena xanthoides'' (Boisduval, 1852) – great gray copper California
The ''chalceria'' species group:
*'' Lycaena ferrisi'' Johnson & Balogh, 1977 – Ferris' copper Arizona
*'' Lycaena heteronea'' Boisduval, 1858 – blue copper
*'' Lycaena rubidus'' (Behr, 1866) – ruddy copper
Subgenus Epidemia Scudder, 1876:
The ''hyllolycaena'' species group:
*'' Lycaena hyllus'' (Cramer,
775
__NOTOC__
Year 775 (Roman numerals, DCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 775 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domi ...
– bronze copper
The ''epidemia'' species group:
*''
Lycaena dorcas
''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 Nort ...
'' Kirby, 1837 – dorcas copper or cinquefoil copper
*''
Lycaena dospassosi
''Lycaena dospassosi'', the maritime copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in eastern Canada.Lycaena epixanthe'' (Boisduval & Leconte, 835 – bog copper, cranberry-bog copper
*'' Lycaena helloides'' (Boisduval, 1852) – purplish copper
*'' Lycaena nivalis'' (Boisduval, 1869) – nivalis copper
*'' Lycaena mariposa'' (Reakirt, 1866) – mariposa copper
Subgenus ''Hermelycaena'' Miller & Brown, 1979:
*'' Lycaena hermes'' (Edwards, 1870) – Hermes copper
Subgenus ''Antipodolycaena'' Smart, 1975:
*'' Lycaena boldenarum'' White, 1862 New Zealand
*''
Lycaena feredayi
''Lycaena feredayi'', the glade copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
The wingspan is 25–32 mm. Adults are on wing from November to December and from February to the beginning of April.
Identific ...
Lycaena salustius
''Lycaena salustius'', the common copper or the coastal copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is known in the Maori language as pepe para riki, a name that is shared with a few other members of the g ...
'' (Fabricius, 1793) – common copper
Unnamed subgenus:
The ''heodes'' species group:
*''
Lycaena ottomanus
''Lycaena ottomanus'' is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey. Its natural habitats are temperate ...
Lycaena hippothoe
The purple-edged copper (''Lycaena hippothoe'') is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Sub-species
Subspecies include:
* ''Lycaena hippothoe hippothoe'' ( Linnaeus, 1761)
* ''Lycaena hippothoe stiberi'' (Gerhard, 1853) – Scandinavia, Ura ...
'' (Linnaeus, 1761) – purple-edged copper
Subgenus ''Lycaena'' Fabricius, 1807:
The ''helle'' species group:
*'' Lycaena helle'' ( chiffermüller 1775) – violet copper
*'' Lycaena irmae'' Bailey, 1932 South Tibet
*''
Lycaena li
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Oberthür, 1886) West China
*''
Lycaena ouang
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Oberthür, 1891) Yunnan
*''
Lycaena pang
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Oberthür, 1886) West China, Tibet
*''
Lycaena svenhedini
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Nordström, 1935) China
*''
Lycaena tseng
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Oberthür, 1886) North Burma to West China
The ''phlaeas'' species group:
*''
Lycaena cupreus
''Lycaena cuprea'', the lustrous copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the western mountains of North America.
'' (Edwards, 1870) – lustrous copper
*'' Lycaena kiyokoae'' Sakai, 1978 Afghanistan
*'' Lycaena phlaeas'' (Linnaeus, 1761) – small copper, common copper, American copper
*''
Lycaena sichuanica
''Lycaena sichuanica'' is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Sichuan in China. The species was described in 2001 and in 2009 the first female specimens were found.
The forewings have an orange ground colour with a broad bord ...
'' Bozano & Weidenhoffer, 2001
The ''thersamolycaena'' species group:
*''
Lycaena aeolus
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' Wyatt, 1961 West Pamirs, Afghanistan
*''
Lycaena aeolides
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Churkin, 1999) Gissar Range, Central Asia
*''
Lycaena alciphron
The purple-shot copper (''Lycaena alciphron'') is a butterfly in the family of the Lycaenidae or copper butterflies and in the genus of the ''Lycaena''.
The coloring of the males and the females is very different, i.e. the sexual dimorphism is v ...
'' (Rottemburg, 1775) – purple-shot copper
*''
Lycaena dispar
The large copper (''Lycaena dispar'') is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. ''L. dispar'' has been commonly arranged into three subspecies: ''L. dispar dispar'', (single-brooded) which was commonly found in England, but is now extinct, ''L. ...
Lycaena aditya
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as ''Antipod ...
'' (Moore, 875 West Pamirs, Afghanistan, Pakistan, North India
*''
Lycaena alaica
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Grum-Grshimailo, 1888) Pamirs-Alai, Gissar Range, North east Afghanistan
*''
Lycaena alpherakyi
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Grum-Grshimailo, 1888) East Pamirs, Northwest China
*''
Lycaena attila
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Zhdanko, 1990)
Zaalaisky Mountains
russian: Заалайский хребет
, etymology =
, photo = Alai Valley 1.jpg
, photo_caption = Trans-Alay Range and Alay Valley
, photo_size = 250
, country = Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
, state =
, region = Osh Province, Gorno-Badaksh ...
(Trans-Ili Alatau) Central Asia
*''
Lycaena asabinus
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as ''Antipod ...
Lycaena hyrcana
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Neuburger, 1903) North Iran to Central Asia
*''
Lycaena kurdistanica
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as ''Antipod ...
'' (Riley, 1921) Armenia, Northeast Turkey, West Iran
*''
Lycaena lampon
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
Lycaena ochimus
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
Lycaena phoebus
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Blachier, 1905) – Moroccan copper Morocco
*''
Lycaena solskyi
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' Erschoff, 1874 Pamirs to Alay Mountains, Gissar Range,
Darvaz Range
The Darvaz Range or Darvoz Range ( tg, пуштаи Дарвоз) is a mountain range in the Western Pamirs, in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan. Its name derives from the historical region of Darvaz. ''Great Soviet Encyclopedia''
...
, Tian-Shan, Kashmir, Samarkand
*''
Lycaena thersamon
''Lycaena thersamon'', the lesser fiery copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Eastern Europe, Italy and South-East Europe to Mongolia and North-Western China.
The wingspan is 14–16 mm. The butterfly fli ...
'' (Esper, 1784) – lesser fiery copper
*'' Lycaena thetis'' Klug, 1834 – fiery copper or golden copper
The ''phoenicurusia'' species group:
*''
Lycaena margelanica
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Staudinger, 1881) South Tajikistan to Tien-Shan, Gissar Range, Darvaz, Alay, West Pamir,
Babatag
Babadag (; tr, Babadağ, "Father Mountain"), formerly known as Babatag, is a town in Tulcea County, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the river Taița, in the densely wooded highlands of Northern Dobruja. One of the several tomb ...
, Karatau, Teriklitau, Rangontau, Zailiisky Alatau, Lake Issyk-Kul mountains
The ''hyrcanana'' species group:
*''
Lycaena caspius
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Lederer, 1869) Kopet-Dagh, Gissar Range, North Iran, Afghanistan
*''
Lycaena ophion
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' Hemming, 1933 Kopet-Dagh, Gissar Range to Darvaz Tadzhikistan
*''
Lycaena pamira
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (Nekrutenko, 1983)
*''
Lycaena sartha
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
'' (Staudinger, 1886) Gissar Range to Darvaz, Pamirs to Alay mountains, Northeast Afghanistan
*''
Lycaena sultan
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
'' (Lang, 1884) West Gissar Range (Zeravshansky, Ghissarsky, Baisuntau, Fanskie)
Unknown species group:
*''
Lycaena bathinia
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' Snellen, 1899 dubious Java
*''
Lycaena clarki
''Lycaena clarki'', the eastern sorrel copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found only in South Africa.
The wingspan is 21–27 mm in males and 22–30 mm in females. The butterfly flies year-round, peaking in summer ...
'' Dickson, 1971 – eastern sorrel copper
*''
Lycaena evansii
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' An ...
'' (de Nicéville, 1902) Kashmir, Chitral
*''
Lycaena kasyapa
''Lycaena kasyapa'', the green copper, is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The species was first described by Frederic Moore in 1865.
See also
*List of butterflies of India
The following is a l ...
'' (Moore, 1865) – green copper
*''
Lycaena orus
''Lycaena orus'', the western sorrel copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found only in South Africa ( Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape Province). The habitat consists of fynbos at various altitudes, from sea level to monta ...
'' (Stoll,
780
__NOTOC__
Year 780 ( DCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 780 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Euro ...
– western sorrel copper
*''
Lycaena ottomanus
''Lycaena ottomanus'' is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey. Its natural habitats are temperate ...
'' (Lefèbvre, 1830)
*''
Lycaena pallida
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
'' Miskin, 1891 New Guinea
*''
Lycaena panava
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
'' (Westwood, 1852)
*'' Lycaena pavana'' (Kollar, 844 – white-bordered copper North India
*''
Lycaena standfussi
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
'' (Grum-Grshimailo, 1891) West China, Tibet
*''
Lycaena susanus
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
Lycaena zariaspa
''Lycaena'' is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as '' Antipo ...
'' (Moore, 1874) West Himalayas, Kashmir, Northwest India