# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Sooty Copper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sooty_copper_%28Lycaena_tityrus%29_male_Pt.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sooty_copper_%28Lycaena_tityrus%29_male_Pt.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Loweia ## 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 - **Sun Worshipper:** Sooty Copper can warm its body using sun-basking because it helps them become active and fly even on cooler days. - **Nectar Sipper:** Sooty Copper has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them sip sweet nectar deep within flowers, fueling their flights. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheeps-sorrel) (*Rumex acetosella*) — Larvae feed on the leaves of this plant. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are gentle and safe to watch, but don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sooty Copper? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Sooty Copper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sooty-copper)