Wingspan: 2.4 to 3.2 cm.
Flight time: Double brooded with the first largely flying from late-May to early-June, and the second in early-July. Scattered individuals have been observed from early May to early September, suggesting presence of other partial broods in some seasons.
Status: Breeding resident.
Distinguishing features: Sexes are strongly dimorphic, with males being copper-brown above with a purplish iridescence, scattered black spots, and a band of orange spots on the hindwing margin. Females are orange with triangular black spots and gray margin on both upper fore and hindwing surfaces. Males of this and the bronze copper may be almost indistinguishable based on the upper wing surface. However, both sexes of the purplish copper have gray-orange under hindwing surfaces, with a margin of orange crescent-shaped spots on the outer margin.
Distribution and habitat: Scattered and rare throughout the northeastern third of the state, where it occurs in wet-mesic prairie, marshes, and wet meadows.
Natural History: Larvae consume a variety of dock (Rumex) and Knotweed (Polygonum) species. This is the most uncommon copper species in Iowa.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
257386 | 2016-06-01 | Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, Horseshoe Bend | Iowa | 41.119631 -91.115408 | IBSN | 1 |
57832 | 1990-07-15 | Rowley Fen | Iowa | 42.37694 -91.85194 | Tim Orwig | 1 |
57839 | 1989-05-31 | Williams Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.76555 -91.80213 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
57825 | 1989-05-28 | Cedar Hills Sand Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.59305 -92.55315 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
57838 | 1989-05-24 | Williams Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.76555 -91.80213 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
57824 | 1988-07-06 | Cedar Hills Sand Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.59305 -92.55315 | Dennis Schlicht | 1 |
107398 | 1988-07-06 | Feldman Fen | Iowa | 42.735699 -92.78109 | Jeff Nekola | 1 |
107395 | 1984-09-18 | Nelson Prairie | Iowa | 40.740012 -95.16597 | Schenum | 1 |
107401 | 1980-07-22 | Lake Pahoja Recreation Area | Iowa | 43.382732 -96.457474 | J Shelton | 1 |
107400 | 1974-06-14 | May City Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.330367 -95.479892 | J C Downey | 1 |
57842 | 1971-07-01 | Williams Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.76555 -91.80213 | S Miller | 1 |
57844 | 1971-06-15 | Williams Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.76555 -91.80213 | S Miller | 1 |
57841 | 1971-05-29 | Williams Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.76555 -91.80213 | S Miller | 1 |
57843 | 1971-05-28 | Williams Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.76555 -91.80213 | S Miller | 1 |
57823 | 1970-09-02 | Cedar Falls | Iowa | 42.53353 -92.43777 | J C Downey | 1 |
57830 | 1970-07-29 | Pilot Knob State Park / Preserve | Iowa | 43.252674 -93.553317 | J C Downey | 1 |
57837 | 1970-07-02 | Wentland Woods | Iowa | 43.138 -92.7205 | M C Christensen | 1 |
57835 | 1970-07-01 | Warren County | Iowa | 41.18689 -93.38227 | D Alexander | 1 |
57836 | 1970-07-01 | Warren County | Iowa | 41.18689 -93.38227 | D Alexander | 1 |
57840 | 1967-06-02 | Williams Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.76555 -91.80213 | J E Michael | 1 |
57829 | 1966-06-23 | Iowa Lakeside Laboratory | Iowa | 43.38 -95.1847 | 1 | |
57833 | 1963-08-17 | Storm Lake | Iowa | 42.643341 -95.201111 | Heitzman | 1 |
107399 | 1961-07-01 | Oelwein City Park | Iowa | 42.645909 -91.915957 | Voss | 1 |
57831 | 1960-08-07 | Polk County | Iowa | 41.6278 -93.50034 | Ron Royer | 1 |
144548 | 1957-10-19 | Moline | Illinois | 41.484712 -90.491774 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
144549 | 1957-10-19 | Moline | Illinois | 41.484712 -90.491774 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
4040 | 1950-07-01 | Black Hawk County | Iowa | 42.447803 -92.381363 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4041 | 1950-07-01 | Buchanan County | Iowa | 42.4566 -91.909927 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4042 | 1950-07-01 | Buena Vista County | Iowa | 42.670544 -95.143204 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4043 | 1950-07-01 | Clinton County | Iowa | 41.878563 -90.563606 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4044 | 1950-07-01 | Dickinson County | Iowa | 43.404938 -95.184921 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4045 | 1950-07-01 | Fayette County | Iowa | 42.925819 -91.909927 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4046 | 1950-07-01 | Floyd County | Iowa | 43.061596 -92.857712 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4047 | 1950-07-01 | Grundy County | Iowa | 42.436951 -92.857712 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4048 | 1950-07-01 | Hancock County | Iowa | 43.038731 -93.662323 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4049 | 1950-07-01 | Johnson County | Iowa | 41.669899 -91.598396 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4050 | 1950-07-01 | Lyon County | Iowa | 43.3936 -96.2479 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4051 | 1950-07-01 | Page County | Iowa | 40.763512 -95.143204 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4052 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.653011 -92.539604 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4053 | 1950-07-01 | Story County | Iowa | 42.104046 -93.500343 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
4054 | 1950-07-01 | Warren County | Iowa | 41.308056 -93.500343 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
57826 | 1950-07-01 | Dickinson County | Iowa | 43.4049 -95.18492 | Lindsey | 1 |
57827 | 1950-07-01 | Johnson County | Iowa | 41.65513 -91.50504 | Lindsey | 1 |
57828 | 1950-07-01 | Johnson County | Iowa | 41.65513 -91.50504 | Wickham | 1 |
57834 | 1950-07-01 | Story County | Iowa | 42.10405 -93.50034 | Lindsey | 1 |
107396 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.698037 -92.54703 | Skinner | 1 |
107397 | 1950-07-01 | Poweshiek County | Iowa | 41.698037 -92.54703 | 1 | |
353480 | 1905-06-04 | Big Twin Lake | Michigan | 44.82285 -84.9551 | Kirk J. Larsen | 1 |
353481 | 1905-06-04 | Big Twin Lake | Michigan | 44.82285 -84.9551 | Kirk J. Larsen | 1 |
353482 | 1905-06-04 | Big Twin Lake | Michigan | 44.82285 -84.9551 | Kirk J. Larsen | 1 |