Lycaena dorcas

Kirby, 1837

dorcas copper, cinquefoil copper

Species Guides

6

Lycaena dorcas is a small native to North America, first described by William Kirby in 1837. It is commonly known as the dorcas or cinquefoil copper. The exhibits in coloration and has a single period between June and September. It inhabits bogs and old overgrown fields across a broad northern range extending from Alaska to the Great Lakes region.

2019-06 Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park (43) Lycaena dorcas florus by Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich). Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.Lycaena dorcas on packera sanguisorboides by Jerry Friedman. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.Lycaena dorcas sangremar P1220763a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lycaena dorcas: //lɪˈsiːnə ˈdɔrkəs//

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Identification

Males resemble Lycaena helloides in coloration; distinguished by red-orange hindwing marginal spots and slight orange tint. Females lack the strong iridescence of males and show patchy lighter areas. The isolated Maine may require additional verification.

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Appearance

Small with wingspan 2.5–3.2 cm. surface brown; males display blue-purple iridescence, females have lighter patchy areas. Hindwings bear red-orange marginal spots on both sexes. surface brown with slight orange tint. Caterpillar pale green with single dark green dorsal line and faint white bands.

Habitat

Occupies bogs and old overgrown fields. Associated with larval plants in wet or successional .

Distribution

North America: Alaska south to Washington in the west; Great Lakes region in the east. Isolated in Maine.

Seasonality

Single period June through September. active during summer months.

Host Associations

  • Potentilla fruticosa - larval plant
  • Rumex - larval plant unspecified
  • Polygonum - larval plant unspecified

Life Cycle

with one per year. Females deposit white singly on undersides of plant leaves. Eggs fall with leaves in autumn and overwinter. Caterpillars emerge in spring and return to host plants to feed.

Behavior

Males remain near plants to locate females. Oviposition occurs on leaf undersides.

Similar Taxa

  • Lycaena helloidesMale coloration similar; distinguished by red-orange hindwing marginal spots and orange tint in L. dorcas

More Details

Taxonomic history

L. dospassosi was formerly treated as with L. dorcas but has been separated as a distinct .

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Sources and further reading