Description
The blue copper is part of the family Lycaenidae and the subfamily Lycaeninae.Article in Butterflies and moth of North AmericaGeographic range
Th blue copper is found in western North America. In Canada, it is found specifically in southern British Columbia and Alberta. In the United States, it has been seen in Washington and California, and as far east as Colorado and New Mexico. The blue copper's preference forHabitat
The blue copper is known to stay in high elevations (1208 to 1651 meters), but in central California the species stays in low elevations (917 to 1452 meters). The butterfly can be seen in brushy areas, mountain meadows, open forests, and sagebrush. Although the presence of ''Eriogonum'' attracts blue coppers, the quality of the plant determines whether the butterfly settles in that place.Californian populations
In California, the blue copper has a restricted distribution in flat areas of Kern and Los Angeles counties and prefer canyon areas near Lebec and O’Neil Canyon. Blue coppers are also prevalent where there are oak (''Quercus lobata'') trees. At Frazier Park, they prefer the higher elevations where ''Eriogonum fasciculatum'' is present. Colonies in this park and canyon areas are next to or close to dry washes.Home range and territoriality
''Lycaena heteronea'' females focus on finding suitable host plants for laying eggs and are usually found in the immediate vicinity of plants that will provide food for their larvae. . The males patrol between flower heads of ''Eriogonum'' food plants and perch on them. The males are extremely territorial with conspecific males to increase their chance of copulating with females. The males have a visual sensor that turns on when conspecific males are around. They ignore other butterfly species that may be present, even those that look extremely similar to male blue coppers, probably because the males’ main objective is to mate with females and other species do not much hinder that.Food resources
Caterpillars
The caterpillars do not have a wide selection of plants that they can feed on, primarily three buckwheat (''Eriogonum'') species. When caterpillars first hatch they eat from the underside of the plant. As the caterpillar grows older, it eats the whole leaf.Adults
Adults have a wide range of plants that they can feed on, including buckwheat, green rabbitbrush, ''Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus'', asters, yarran, gaillardia, fiddleneck, wallflower, and milkweed. This diverse diet enables the males to actively search for and defend their territory.Life history
Egg
The females lay their eggs one at a time on bracts, modified leaves, or underneath the host plant. Blue coppers are single brooded and females can lay dozens of eggs in a single sitting. The females look for plants of the best quality, usually buckwheat, because this affects their offspring's survival. The eggs, which are round and appear flattened, begin hatching the following spring.Caterpillar
After hatching, the caterpillar starts eating the underside of the buckwheat leaf. As the caterpillar grows older, it eats all parts of the leaf. Blue copper larvae are shaped like sowbugs or woodlouses. Their color ranges from dull blue to green, which helps the caterpillar to blend in with its surroundings and increase its chance of survival. Depending on their location, some larvae have either a light yellow or white lateral line. Their heads are a brownish color. The caterpillar goes through four instars before pupating.Pupa
The pupa is green with different shades of green on the outside.Article in E-FAUNA BC: ELECTRONIC ATLAS OF THE WILDLIFE OF BRITISH COLUMBIAAdult
After emerging from the chrysalis, females begin their search for a high quality host plant for larvae. Males begin their search for females to mate with.Migration
Blue coppers are not known to migrate because they do not require a different climate for survival. However, they can fly as far as one kilometer in distance.Enemies
The blue copper has no known enemies. However, the species is decreasing in certain parts of California because of the increase in fires that burn down the trees in the open forest where these butterflies reside.Mating
As the females come out of their pupas they release a pheromone that attracts the males to where they are. The males show off their wing colors because the female will prefer the male with the best wing coloration. To increase their mating success, the males try to be the first male that the females sees.Mutualism
Some larvae in California have been reported to be facultativelyConservation
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank of ''Lycaena heteronea'' is G5. This ranking indicates that the species is abundant and secure from a conservation standpoint but it may be rare in certain parts of its range. In southern California, its rank is T2, which means that its scarcity there makes it vulnerable to extirpation.References
Further reading
* * * * * * * *External links
*http://www.bentler.us/eastern-washington/animals/insects/butterflies/blue-copper-butterfly.aspx *https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Lycaena-heteronea *http://www.cbif.gc.ca/eng/species-bank/butterflies-of-canada/blue-copper/?id=1370403265552 *http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/efauna/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Lycaena%20heteronea {{Taxonbar, from=Q3268319 Lycaena Butterflies of North America Butterflies described in 1852 Taxa named by Jean Baptiste Boisduval