Eu-protected-species
Guides
Lycaena
Lycaena butterflies, copper butterflies
Lycaena is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae with a primarily Holarctic distribution. The genus encompasses numerous species commonly known as coppers, many of which have been subject to taxonomic revision with former independent genera now subsumed within it. Species in this genus serve as important indicators for grassland and wetland ecosystem health, with some members such as Lycaena phlaeas showing resilience to environmental change while others face significant population declines.