Another copper which displays sexual dimorphism (the male and female look different), with the male possessing a rich red-orange upperside and smokey brown edges with a purple sheen and the female resembling a larger Small Copper (except in Alpine areas where the female has a dark brown upperside). It is a species which prefers milder temperatures and shies away from Mediterranean areas. The subspecies L.h. stiberiĀ can be found well into the Arctic Circle whilst in the Balkans it is replaced with the Balkan Copper; a closely related sister-species. In both the Alps and the Pyrenees I saw this species in small numbers, usually in more open areas than the Scarce Copper.

Distribution: Central and northern Europe, as far south as N Spain and C Italy.

Flight Period: May-September in one or two broods depending on latitude and altitude, usually June-July in most areas.

Habitat: Damp grassland, bogland margins, subalpine meadows and lush brownfield sites from 400-2000m.

Foodplants: Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and Bistort (Bistorta officinalis).

Nectar Sources: Thymes (Thymus), Marjoram (Origanum majorana), scabiouses (Knautia/Scabiosa), Eryngium, Bistort (Bistort officinalis) and others.

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