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TranslateLycaena Phlaeas
Lycaena Phlaeas, (Linnaeus 1761) common name “Small Copper”
Family: Lycaenidae
Average wingspan 32mm male to 35mm female
Widespread and common in South and Central England and Wales, most colonies are small with just a few adults seen on wing at the same time; never see the adults on wing in vast numbers. This species presence becomes less common in northern England, Scotland and Ireland. Absent in mountainous areas and far north-west Scotland, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Throughout Europe, North to Greenland, South to Mediterranean, East and west it is one of the most widespread and commonest species of butterflies found from the Mediterranean Heat to the Artic Cold.
Flight period: (Southern and Central England) and Late April till end of October- November (south) overwintering as a caterpillar.
Habitat: In a wide variety of places the “Small Copper” can be found where its food plant (Rumex acetosa) grows, on sunny woodland edges, heathland, roadside edges, urban gardens, Chalk down-lands, dunes and cliffs, old pits and quarries, waste grounds in towns and cities. Favouring where sheep or rabbits graze on natural grasslands.
Males set up small territories which they defend not only against rival males but also will not tolerate other insects. Females are pursued within these territories and mating usually occurs in vegetation.
Two to three broods a year, sometimes a forth brood maybe successful but only in the south of England.
The small white eggs are laid on small young Sorrel (Rumex acetosa, known as “Dock leaves”) leaves and look like tiny white golf balls. When hatched, while eating the young caterpillars make small conspicuous grooves on the underside of a Sorrel leaf. Pupation takes place in leaf litter and the pupa is thought to be tended by ants. The Chrysalis is not so easy to find as it’s colouring is pale brown, flecked with dark specks forming amongst leaf litter.
Read MoreFamily: Lycaenidae
Average wingspan 32mm male to 35mm female
Widespread and common in South and Central England and Wales, most colonies are small with just a few adults seen on wing at the same time; never see the adults on wing in vast numbers. This species presence becomes less common in northern England, Scotland and Ireland. Absent in mountainous areas and far north-west Scotland, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Throughout Europe, North to Greenland, South to Mediterranean, East and west it is one of the most widespread and commonest species of butterflies found from the Mediterranean Heat to the Artic Cold.
Flight period: (Southern and Central England) and Late April till end of October- November (south) overwintering as a caterpillar.
Habitat: In a wide variety of places the “Small Copper” can be found where its food plant (Rumex acetosa) grows, on sunny woodland edges, heathland, roadside edges, urban gardens, Chalk down-lands, dunes and cliffs, old pits and quarries, waste grounds in towns and cities. Favouring where sheep or rabbits graze on natural grasslands.
Males set up small territories which they defend not only against rival males but also will not tolerate other insects. Females are pursued within these territories and mating usually occurs in vegetation.
Two to three broods a year, sometimes a forth brood maybe successful but only in the south of England.
The small white eggs are laid on small young Sorrel (Rumex acetosa, known as “Dock leaves”) leaves and look like tiny white golf balls. When hatched, while eating the young caterpillars make small conspicuous grooves on the underside of a Sorrel leaf. Pupation takes place in leaf litter and the pupa is thought to be tended by ants. The Chrysalis is not so easy to find as it’s colouring is pale brown, flecked with dark specks forming amongst leaf litter.
