Scarce Copper
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Scarce Copper
lycaena virgaureae
The Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) is a stunningly vibrant butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae. Known for the brilliant, glowing coppery-orange color of the male's upper wings, this species is a jewel of palearctic meadows and forest edges. Despite its name, it can be locally abundant in undisturbed, flower-rich habitats across Europe and parts of Asia, though land development and intensive agriculture have led to declines in some regions. These butterflies are highly active during warm, sunny days, frequently visiting nectar-rich yellow and white flowers. They undergo a single generation per year, overwintering as eggs before emerging as caterpillar larvae in the spring to feed on sorrel plants.
Hábitat: Found in flower-rich dry or damp meadows, woodland clearings, and sunny hillsides, often closely associated with host sorrel plants.
Aspecto
The Scarce Copper is a small to medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of 3 to 4 cm. Sexual dimorphism is highly pronounced: males possess brilliant, unspotted, glowing coppery-red or orange upper wings with a very thin, clean black outer border. In contrast, females are less luminous, featuring golden-orange upper wings heavily patterned with rows of dark brown or black spots. The undersides of both sexes are similar, presenting a pale orange-yellow to brownish hue adorned with small black spots and a characteristic submarginal row of tiny white patches on the hindwing.
ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaLycaenidaeGéneroLycaena
Categoría
InsectosRareza
Common
Peligro
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Snaps
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Datos interesantes
Female Scarce Coppers deliberately lay their eggs near the base of withered host plants, ensuring the emerging spring larvae are close to newly sprouting sorrel leaves.
The species name 'virgaureae' refers to European Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), which is one of the adult butterflies' favorite nectar sources, rather than the caterpillar's host plant.
While most copper butterflies have dark spots on their upper wings, the male Scarce Copper is unique for having entirely spotless, pure orange-red upper wings.
Habilidades especiales
Habilidad
Solar Heat Regulation
Utilizes its highly reflective copper wings to bask in the sun at precise angles, rapidly warming up its thoracic flight muscles on cool mornings.
Habilidad
Territorial Perching
Males establish and fiercely guard small sunny perches, darting out to drive away rival males and other insect intruders.
Habilidad
Egg Overwintering
Produces eggs with a thick, insulated chorion shell, allowing them to safely survive freezing winter temperatures on dry stems.
Medidas y detalles
- Longitud
- 1+ cm
- Envergadura
- 3+ cm
- Peso
- 0.0001+ kg
- Esperanza de vida
- 1+ años
- Top Speed
- 12 km/h
- Tamaño de la puesta
- 40+
- Incubación
- 180+ días
Dieta y alimentación
Caterpillars feed exclusively on the foliage of sorrel plants, while adult butterflies feed on the nectar of various flowering plants, especially white and yellow composites.
Diferencias por edad: Larvae chew and feed strictly on the leaves of host Rumex plants, whereas adults drink liquid nectar using a sucking proboscis.
Alimentos principales
- Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
- Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
- Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)
- Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Método de búsqueda
- Grazing
Conexiones ecológicas
host plant
Common Sorrel
Rumex acetosa
The primary larval host plant, providing essential nutrition to the growing caterpillars.
eaten by
Eurasian Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Preyed upon by small insectivorous birds during the adult butterfly stage.
parasite
Ichneumon Wasp
Ichneumon suspiciosus
Larvae are occasionally parasitized by specialized parasitoid wasps.
Rasgos
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También conocido como
Todavía no hay alias listados.
Colecciones
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Seguridad
Peligro
1/5 · Muy bajo
Todavía no hay notas especiales de seguridad.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Cómo identificar a Scarce Copper?
La forma más fácil de identificar a Scarce Copper es usar la aplicación de identificación de naturaleza Snappit.
¿Cuál es el longitud de Scarce Copper?
1+ cm
¿Cuál es el envergadura de Scarce Copper?
3+ cm
¿Cuál es el peso de Scarce Copper?
0.0001+ kg
¿Cuál es el esperanza de vida de Scarce Copper?
1+ años
¿Cuál es el top Speed de Scarce Copper?
12 km/h
¿Qué come Scarce Copper?
Caterpillars feed exclusively on the foliage of sorrel plants, while adult butterflies feed on the nectar of various flowering plants, especially white and yellow composites.
¿Dónde se encuentra normalmente Scarce Copper?
Found in flower-rich dry or damp meadows, woodland clearings, and sunny hillsides, often closely associated with host sorrel plants.
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