Lycaena heteronea

Boisduval, 1852

blue copper

Lycaena heteronea, the , is a North in the . Males display bright sky-blue upper surfaces with dark , while females are copper- with black dots. The is tightly associated with Eriogonum (buckwheat) plants and occupies a range of open in western North America from British Columbia to New Mexico. It is single-brooded with seasons varying geographically from April through August.

COPPER, BLUE (Lycaena heteronea) (8-23-11) 6500ft, amador co, ca -01 (9421689383) by ALAN SCHMIERER. Used under a CC0 license.

Lycaena heteronea P1230751a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Blue Copper - Lycaena heteronea, near Bassetts, California by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lycaena heteronea: /lɪˈsiːnə ˌhɛtəˈroʊniə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Males distinguished from Boisduval's (Icaricia icarioides) by brighter sky-blue coloration and specific pattern details. Females recognized by - upper wings with black dots versus blue in males of similar . Underside pattern of /off-white with brown-black dots consistent across sexes.

Images

Habitat

Open including brushy areas, mountain meadows, open forests, and sagebrush. In California, restricted to flat areas of Kern and Los Angeles counties, canyon areas near Lebec and O'Neil Canyon, and oak-associated sites. Elevation range: typically 1208–1651 m, though 917–1452 m in central California. Presence contingent on quality of Eriogonum plants.

Distribution

Western North America: southern British Columbia and Alberta in Canada; Washington, California, Colorado, and New Mexico in the United States. California localized and restricted.

Seasonality

season April to August, varying by region: British Columbia April–July; Alberta July–August. Single-brooded .

Diet

feed primarily on three Eriogonum (buckwheat) , eating leaf undersides when young, entire leaves when older. feed on diverse nectar sources including buckwheat, green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), asters, yarrow, gaillardia, fiddleneck, wallflower, and .

Host Associations

Eriogonum - larval primary ; three used
Eriogonum fasciculatum - larval used at Frazier Park, California
Formica francoeuri - facultative ; observed in association with this in California

Life Cycle

Single-brooded. laid singly on bracts, modified leaves, or undersides; hatch following spring. through four before pupating. emerge, with males seeking mates and females seeking host plants for .

Behavior

Males and perch on Eriogonum flower , defending territories aggressively against males using visual . Territorial defense ignores other , including superficially similar ones. Females on locating high-quality plants for -laying. Males display coloration to females during courtship; females prefer males with superior coloration. capable of up to one kilometer; no migratory documented.

Ecological Role

of diverse flowering plants. Larval on Eriogonum. Facultative with Formica francoeuri provides potential protection benefits to .

Human Relevance

Subject of long-term studies. for grassland and open health. status ranked G5 globally (abundant and secure) but T2 in southern California (vulnerable to extirpation). Threatened by fire frequency increase in California habitats.

Similar Taxa

Icaricia icarioides (Boisduval's blue)Males frequently confused with L. heteronea males; distinguished by differences in color intensity and pattern details

More Details

Conservation status

Nature Conservancy Global Rank G5 (abundant and secure globally); T2 in southern California (scarcity makes it vulnerable to extirpation). declines in California linked to increased fire frequency destroying open forest .

Climate sensitivity

Documented in regional studies of western North decline associated with warming and drying trends, though L. heteronea not individually highlighted in published analyses.