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Field guide · Sweden
Blues, coppers and hairstreaks · Sweden

Purple-edged copper

Lycaena hippothoe

Purple-edged copper is a large copper with shiny yellowish-red males and violet iridescence. It is widespread throughout Sweden but has declined markedly in the south since the 1980s.

Status in this countryRare in SwedenNT (Near threatened)
Purple-edged copper

Flight period

Flights occur from mid-June to early August. In the north, flights typically run from the beginning of July, and sometimes until the middle of August.

Habitat

Healthy in moist meadow soil, preferably near marshy ground or in slopes with abundant surface water. Thrives in traditionally managed grassland; in the mountains, up to 1 100 m above sea level.

Identifying features

Wingspan 30–35 mm. The male is gleaming yellowish-red on the upper side, with black margins and violet-shimmering pigment along the front edge of the forewing and on the lower edge of the hindwing. The female is dark brown on the forewings, with more or less spread yellow-red pigment, black spots, and two transverse bands of black spots, the inner row evenly curved. The underside is yellowish-grey with clearly light-edged black spots.

Similar species

The female may be confused with scarce copper (Lycaena virgaureae), violet copper (L. helle) or small copper (Lycaena phlaeas). The most similar species, purple-shot copper and sooty copper, have not yet been recorded in Sweden.

Distribution

Widespread throughout Sweden, but significantly decreasing in the south since the 1980s. Found throughout Norway across the country to Finnmark; formerly widespread in Denmark and Finland, but now decreasing significantly in those areas. The global distribution extends through central, northern, and eastern Europe to Siberia, Altaj, Mongolia, and the Amu area.

Biology

The most important plant growth is common sorrel (Rumex acetosa). Eggs are laid one or two per leaf and hatch after 1–2 weeks. The slow larva prepares for overwintering in the third stage and undergoes pupation the following spring near the ground surface. The males patrol rapidly in search of females. Both sexes are active flower visitors.