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Blue or Copper?
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Blue Copper
Lycaena heteronea Boisduval, 1852
The Blue Copper is a remarkable species, if only because of the apparent contrdiction in its common
name. Anatomically it is a true member of the "Coppers", even though it has a wonderfully lustrous pale blue upperside in the male and is thus easily mistaken for a "Blue" species of the Polyommatinae.
This male, and others, were feeding on these bright yellow flowers at an elevation of approximately
4,800 feet (1,500m) in the Umatilla Forest ridge of the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon. There is a
wonderful public gravel road that runs for about 25 miles north-south along this ridge and gives perfect access to the "alpine" pastures and pine forest clearings at the summit of these mountains, an excellent butterfly habitat.
This image has been cropped, resized and sharpened for TN.
Family: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
Subfamily: Coppers (Lycaeninae)
Identification: Upper surface of male bright blue, with darker veins; female dull blue to dark brown with numerous small dark spots. Underside of both sexes white to yellow-white; hindwing varies
from having many to few black spots.
Life history: Most males patrol near host plants for females, but some perch. Females lay eggs
singly on bracts under host leaves or umbels; eggs hatch the following spring. Young caterpillars feed on the underside of leaf; older ones eat all parts of the leaf.
Flight: One flight from May-August.
Wing span: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.9 - 3.5 cm).
Caterpillar hosts: Wild buckwheat (Eriogonum species) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult food: Nectar from flowers, including wild buckwheat.
Habitat: Brushy areas, open forest, mountain meadows, sagebrush; mostly at high elevations
except for low elevations in central California.
Range: British Columbia south and east through southcentral California, northern Arizona, and
northern New Mexico.
Conservation: Lycaena heteronea has The Nature Conservancy Global Rank of G5 -
Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the
periphery. Varied Copper (subspecies clara) of southern California has been evaluated for
conservation, and has The Nature Conservancy rank of T2 - Imperiled because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range). |
tuslaw, uleko, Gert-Paassen has marked this note useful
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- lousat
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(19673) - [2008-08-10 13:24]
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Hi Alan,the choice of point of view make a difference! Very excellent shot,colors and sharpness very great,just my best compliments,have a nice week,Luciano
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- tuslaw
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 20 N: 1392]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(4861) - [2008-08-10 19:14]
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Beautiful image Alan,
Love the POV and the fine detail you've captured. Great exposure, especially on the bright yellow colors of the flowers. Very informative notes!!
Ron
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- uleko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2999 W: 162 N: 984]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(2877) - [2008-08-11 12:22]
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Hello Alan,
I've never heard of a Blue Copper but it looks very interesting here. I like the light colour and the sharp focus on the eyes and the antennae with orange points! A fine composition too.
TFS and regards, Ulla
Hi Alan,
Looks indeed qua composition of my Holly blue.
This one are also a beautiful picture and nice pov.
Gert
