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Sooty Copper
ExploreInsects
Sooty Copper
Lycaena tityrus
The Sooty Copper is a small butterfly with beautiful orange and black wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and can often be seen in sunny places during warm days.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Sooty Copper is a small butterfly with dark, brownish-black upper wings that can appear almost sooty. Males have a subtle copper-orange sheen, while females display distinct orange spots near the outer edges. Its underside is pale, often with small black spots.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyLycaenidaeGenusLoweia
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its caterpillars are masters of disguise, blending perfectly with their food plants!
Male Sooty Coppers 'dance' in the air to attract a mate, circling each other swiftly!
Sooty Copper caterpillars have a fuzzy, velvety appearance, quite different from their adult form!
These butterflies have tiny scales on their wings that give them their unique metallic sheen!
Special abilities
Ability
Sun Worshipper
Sooty Copper can warm its body using sun-basking because it helps them become active and fly even on cooler days.
Ability
Nectar Sipper
Sooty Copper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them sip sweet nectar deep within flowers, fueling their flights.
Ability
Taste Feet
Sooty Copper can taste plants with its feet because it helps them find the perfect leaves for laying eggs.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 25-30 mm
- Size
- 10-18 mm
- Lifespan
- 10-20 days
- Flight Speed
- 8 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Adults sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big!
Age differences: Caterpillars eat plant leaves, but adults drink sweet flower nectar using a straw-like proboscis.
Primary Foods
- Nectar
- Rumex acetosella (Sheep's Sorrel)
- Rumex acetosa (Common Sorrel)
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
Sheep's Sorrel
Rumex acetosella
Larvae feed on the leaves of this plant.
eaten by
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Great Tit
Parus major
Adult butterflies can be prey for small birds.
parasitizes
Braconid Wasp
Microplitis mediator
Wasps lay eggs inside Sooty Copper caterpillars.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Butterflies are gentle and safe to watch, but don't try to catch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sooty Copper's wingspan?
25-30 mm
How big is Sooty Copper?
10-18 mm
How long does Sooty Copper live?
10-20 days
How fast can Sooty Copper fly?
8 km/h
What does Sooty Copper eat?
Adults sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big!
Where is Sooty Copper usually found?
Grasslands
How does Sooty Copper hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Sooty Copper have?
6
Snap Map
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