Saltmarsh-specialist

Guides

• Lycaena dospassosi

  maritime copper, saltmarsh copper

  Lycaena dospassosi is a small copper butterfly endemic to eastern Canada, restricted to coastal saltmarsh habitats where its larval foodplant Argentina egedei grows. First described in 1940 by James McDunnough, it was originally treated as a subspecies of L. dorcas but is now recognized as a valid species. The butterfly has a wingspan of 25–31 mm and flies from late July to mid-August. Adults nectar on sea lavender (Limonium carolinianum).

  endemicsaltmarsh-specialistcopper-butterflyeastern-CanadaGulf-of-St.-Lawrencethreatened-habitatlarval-host-specificity