 Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/9/13. © Ron Hemberger. |
Great Copper Lycaena xanthoides Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae |
 Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/9/13. © Ron Hemberger. |
 Female. Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/16/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
 Female. Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/16/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
 Female. Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/16/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
 Male. Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/16/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
 Female. Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/16/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
 Mating pair. Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/16/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
 Mating pair. Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, CA. 6/16/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
Characteristics: Larger than other 'coppers'; Forewing length: 172 mm. Male--gray-brown with distinct orange crescent-like markings along outer margin of DHW; female--distinct black spots on DFW, orange suffusion on both DFW and DHW. Similar Species: Could be mistaken for Lycaena gorgon. The differing VW patterns will distinguish xanthoides from gorgon. Habitats, Behavior: Scott and Opler (1975) also describe xanthoides as a perching species, but refer to a habit of perching on vegetation about one meter above ground. Larval foodplant: Several dock species. Distribution: From Orsak: Only one well-defined colony is thus far known to occur in Orange County. This colony is located on fairly flat brush-covered land at the junction of National Forest Road 6S05 and the McConville Road, between the Los Pinos Forestry Camp and the Ortega Highway (California Route 74). The species is not rare at this site, but the colony does not seem to cover more than one or two acres. Thus, one should be cautious in collecting so that the species will not be depleted here. All Felton and Orsak records listed here are from this colony. (Update 6/16/13): The above images are from a colony on the road from Rte 74 to Blue Jay campground, in Orange County. Other Remarks: The foodplant in Orange County (Boughey, 1968) occurs occasionally in chaparral vegetation in the coastal plains and foothills. From Orsak, L. J. (1977). The Butterflies of Orange County, California. Center for Pathobiology Miscellaneous Publication #3. University of California Press, New York. 349pp. Return to Butterflies and their larval foodplants |
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