Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Bog Copper (Lycaena epixanthe)

Overview

Species Overview

Bog copper (Lycaena epixanthe), a State Special Concern butterfly, has been found in sphagnum bogs. Found mostly in the open areas where the sphagnum mat has abundant cranberry and on floating bog mats adjacent to open water. Its host plant is cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon and V. oxycoccus). This is a univoltine species and adults fly the third week of June to mid-to-late July with the flight starting up to two weeks later in the Lake Superior region.

Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Bog Copper (Lycaena epixanthe). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Summary Information State Status: SC/N Federal Status in Wisconsin: none State Rank: S3S4 Global Rank: G4G5 Tracked by NHI: W Species of Greatest Conservation Need:

Detailed Information

Identification: Adult males above are brownish and exhibit a purple sheen of varying intensity with three black spots on forewing. Females are dull brownish above, with a postmedian row of black spots on the forewing and black spots on the hindwing. In both sexes, the wings below are a very pale grayish-silver with black spots and submarginal orange markings on the hindwings. The grayish-silver color below distinguishes the bog copper from the other species. Because of variability and similarity of other copper species, records should preferably be documented with voucher specimens. Good close-up photos of both upper and underside may be acceptable, but accurate identification is not always possible without specimens or using photos. Wingspan: 22-25mm. Length of forewing: 12-14 mm. The green sluglike larvae have white hairs, green dashes along the sides and a dark green dorsal band.

Similar Species: The males of the purplish copper (L. helloides) and both sexes of the dorcas copper (L. dorcas) are very similar, but the undersides of the forewings are orange. Nabokov's blue females (Lycaeides idas nabokovi) could be confused with coppers in the northeastern portion of the state because they are brownish above and pale below with a small amount of orange on the wing edge.

Habitat: Sphagnum bogs. Found mostly in the open areas where the sphagnum mat has abundant cranberry and on floating bog mats adjacent to open water.

Nectar Source: Cranberry flowers. Bog goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), and spotted knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii) have been reported from Michigan.

Host Plant: Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon and V. oxycoccus).

Associated Species: May be in the same bogs as dorcas coppers where the latter will be near the borders (Nielsen 1999).

State Distribution: Widespread but localized. Documented records from Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Door, Douglas, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Monroe, Oneida, Ozaukee, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Sheboygan and Vilas counties.

Global Distribution: Southern Manitoba and northern Minnesota to Michigan, New Jersey, Maryland, and Newfoundland.

Threats: Loss of wetland habitat and disruption of bog hydrology.

Phenology: Adults fly the third week of June to mid-to-late July with the flight starting up to two weeks later in the Lake Superior region.

Life History: Univoltine. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of cranberry leaves or at the base of hostplant. Caterpillars feed on shoots and leaves (Opler et al 1995). First-stage caterpillars overwinter in their eggs, often underwater. The eggs can survive completely submerged during the winter (Layberry 1998).

Survey Guidance: Search open areas and edges of bog lakes with abundant cranberry. Males perch on low plants to watch for females (Opler et al 1995). New county records should be documented with voucher specimens.

Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs: Locate additional populations, particularly in southeastern Wisconsin. A considerable amount of potential habitat in Wisconsin has not been surveyed. There are likely a significant number of undiscovered populations throughout northern Wisconsin.

Additional Information: The Lycaena exipanthe in Wisconsin is subspecies michiganensis .

Information originally presented as part of the Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens.

Photos

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Lycaena epixanthe in Delta County, MI. Photo © Kyle Johnson.

Lycaena epixanthe in Delta County, MI. Photo © Kyle Johnson.

Related Links

Links to Additional Bog Copper Information

• WisconsinButterflies.org Species Profile [Exit DNR]
• Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) [Exit DNR]

Other Links Related to Butterflies and Moths

• Wisconsin Butterflies (Mike Reese)
• More Butterfly Links
• The Field Museum [Exit DNR]
• Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens