Small Copper

Bright orange with black spots.

Scientific name	Lycaena phlaeas
English name	Small Copper
Japanese name	紅小灰蝶
Classification	Insecta
Classification details	Lepidoptera Lycaenidae
Full length	13-19mm
Distribution	from Hokkaido to Kyushu

Characteristics

A bright orange lycaenous butterfly on a brown ground. The orange part of the forewing has black spots, and the hindwing has a large brown part. The wing margins are whitish and the underside is gray.

It can be seen from spring, but the color gradually becomes darker in summer and autumn.

Larva

The larvae of the lycaenid have an oval shape with inconspicuous legs and are light green to purple in color. This color is thought to resemble the knotweed plant that the larvae try to eat.

Ecology

Inhabit grasslands. It occurs several times from spring to autumn, and the larvae overwinter in winter. It feeds on knotweeds such as sorrel and crocodile. Adults fly near the ground in open grasslands and suck nectar from flowers.

Habitat

Found at Katakura Castle Ruins Park, Hachioji City. There are many corbiculas in the park, but in the grasslands facing the Yudono River, there were red corbiculas. It perched on the grass on the ground and stayed still with its wings open for a while, then passed through the houses and returned to the park.