Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site - Lycaena

Lycaena arota arota

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:43 +0000

Most populations of this strongly sexually-dimorphic species live in mesic habitats, usually mixed forest. Uncharacteristically for a Copper, territorial males perch in sunflecks often high in the trees. Both sexes visit flowers eagerly, especially those of Eriogonum nudum and Asters (and in Sierra Valley, alfalfa and yellow Ivesia). The nominate subspecies, which occurs at Gates Canyon, Washington, Lang and Donner (and has been taken low at Castle Peak), is more heavily marked and shaded than the "desert" subspecies, virginiensis. The Sierra Valley population, formerly arota arota, apparently died out and was replaced by a more virginiensis-looking population, which in turn was unrecorded in 2005. The host plants are Currants and Gooseberries, genus Ribes. There is one brood, at low elevations rarely as early as May, mostly June-July; at Lang and Donner July-September. The Gates Canyon population seems to be a relatively recent colonization, and is the only one recorded for Solano County. The species is uncommon there , at Washington and Lang, but usually common at Donner. It has the (?) unique habit of taking nectar from Penstemon flowers bitten into by nectar-robbing carpenter bees (Xylocopa).

Lycaena arota virginiensis

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:42 +0000

Named for Virginia City, Nevada, not for the State of Virginia. This subspecies is paler beneath and correspondingly more contrastingly-marked than nominate arota, which it replaces in the Great Basin. During the course of this study the population at Sierra Valley, which was nominate arota, went extinct and was subsequently replaced by a population more like virginiensis in appearance. It, in turn, declined in 2004 and was not seen in 2005 - perhaps it will switch back? Single-brooded in the second half of summer and straggling into autumn; visits Alfalfa, Rabbitbrush, Thistles, Sweet Clover, Aster, etc.

Lycaena cupreus

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:41 +0000

The Lustrous Copper is rather common at Lang and Donner, but rare at Castle Peak. It occurs along roadsides and trails and males often perch territorially in the middle of the road, where they are incredibly conspicuous. Both sexes visit flowers freely, including Aster and other small Composites, Clovers , Field Peppergrass and Pussy Paws. There is one brood in late spring-early summer, usually emerging and disappearing before Edith's Copper in the same places.

The only confirmed host of this species in our sites, and through most of its California range, is Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella). Above tree-line it breeds on Alpine Sorrel, Oxyria digyna, but has not been found using it on Castle Peak though the plant is not uncommon there. This is rather mysterious. Oxyria is native, but occupies roughly 5% of the range of the Lustrous Copper. In the other 95% it uses Sheep Sorrel (unless there are other, undocumented hosts). But Sheep Sorrel is thought to be an Old World weed naturalized in California, certainly no earlier than the Mission Period. Is it possible that a single-brooded montane butterfly underwent so explosive a range expansion in so little time in response to a naturalized weed?

Lycaena editha

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:40 +0000

One of the most abundant butterflies at Donner. This species replaces the Great Copper above 4000' in the Sierra Nevada. It occurs along roadsides and on meadows but can often be found in clearings in Lodgepole Pine forest. Males are territorial perchers on or near the ground. Both sexes visit many flowers, especially Asters, Rabbitbrush, and Eriogonum. At Lang it often visits Pink Dogbane. Females are extremely variable in color and pattern above. There is one brood, from June to October. The usual host plant today is Sheep Sorrel, Rumex acetosella, supposedly an introduced weed. Unlike Lycaena cupreus, however, this species has a known native host on our transect - Poke Knotweed, Polygonum phytolaccoides - so there is no need to assume its range and abundance have increased due to human activity. In recent years this species has become a breeding resident at Sierra Valley, where it was previously only a stray.

Lycaena gorgon

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:39 +0000

A fairly common species in foothill canyons, reaching barely to mid-elevations. Usually in rocky sites in foothill woodland or chaparral, often commonest along roadsides where its host plants grow. Adults visit the flowers of the host (Wild Buckwheat of the Eriogonum nudum group) as well as (in some places) Woolly Sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum complex), Dogbane, Milkweed, etc. Males are territorial perchers and often sit on or near the ground.

One brood in spring, late March-July (mostly May and June). This species occasionally occurs on serpentine but is not especially associated with it.

Lycaena helloides

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:38 +0000

Thirty years ago this was a weedy species in the Sacramento Valley and Bay Area but it is now scarce and largely confined to marshes and damp grasslands. It formerly bred on Polygonum "aviculare" (knotweed, "yard grass," a complex of several species not all of which seem to be used) in urban vacant lots, as well as on Dock (Rumex, including the introduced R. crispus). In its former incarnation it flew near sea level from March to late autumn, with multiple broods. Now it is rarely seen before June, and is only locally common in September and October. The life history is similar at the Suisun Marsh, where a larger, brighter "race" formerly fed on Potentilla pacifica (or egedei), a member of the Rosaceae, in the fresh-water areas; this appears to be extinct, at least in our site, replaced by "normal" Rumex-feeders (and not many of them). Sporadic on meadows at Lang and Donner, seemingly not resident. Definitely resident at Sierra Valley, May-November, commonest in autumn with apparently three broods.

Adults visit Lippia, Heliotrope, Alfalfa, Aster, Baccharis and many other flowers. They often turn up in fall on male Coyotebrush in places where the species has not otherwise been seen all year.

Aberrations of the black wing-pattern are fairly frequent; their causation is uninvestigated. One bilateral gynandromorph has also been taken in our area!

Lycaena heteronea

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:37 +0000

Despite its astonishing sky-blue color (in the male), this is anatomically a perfectly normal Copper.

It occurs at Lang (somewhat irregularly), Donner and Basin-Castle Peaks. Males are territorial perchers, often on the host plant. Occurs in montane and alpine "rock garden" habitat.

Our populations are nearly unmarked on the hindwing beneath. (Some local Northern California populations are heavily spotted, like those in the Rocky Mountains.) Females vary considerably; some are sooty brown on top, some are heavily "checkered" in buff, and some have substantial amounts of blue.

The host plants are perennial Wild Buckwheats, both the Eriogonum nudum group and Sulphur Flower, E. umbellatum--and perhaps others. The flight period is July-September, generally later at higher elevations; always single-brooded.

Lycaena mariposa

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:36 +0000

Resident at only one site on the transect - Donner - where it is confined to three tiny pockets where it has occurred for 35 years. This is a species of bogs and boggy meadows, often where California Pitcher Plant (Darlingtonia californica) and Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) grow. It has a single brood (July-August) and flies in the shrubby zone at the edge of the bog, usually adjacent to Lodgepole Pine. The host plants are supposed to be Blueberries (Vaccinium). These do not occur at any of the three Donner sites where it apparently breeds, so its presence there is an ongoing mystery. The semiaquatic Cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) and Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera conjugialis) are regular associates in the Sierra.

Lycaena nivalis

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:35 +0000

On our transect found from 5000' up; common at Donner and Castle Peak. Roadsides, dry meadows, openings in forest; males perch on or near the ground in full sun with wings partly opened, and are territorial. Our populations have the lilac color and the black spotting on the ventral hindwing poorly developed. "Snowy" could refer to the pale underside or to the occurrence of the species at higher altitudes in the land of snow. The sexual dimorphism above is very strong.

This is an extreme host specialist, feeding only on the rather common but inconspicuous knotweed Polygonum douglassii, which typically grows on light, sandy soils with little competition. It can, however, be reared on other Polygonaceae in the lab, including species of Rumex (which it never uses afield). Adults visit pink dogbane, aster, pink pussy-paws, various wild buckwheats, and other flowers freely. One brood, June-September, the timing reflecting the year's snowmelt characteristics.

Lycaena rubidus

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:34 +0000

A distinctive species of the East slope and northeastern California, oddly not present in Sierra Valley but recorded intermittently at Donner and certainly breeding there at times over the history of this project, though not every year. Found in moist, grassy areas with (usually native) Docks (Rumex), the host plants. Males perch on low vegetation; both sexes often visit Coyotemint, Eriogonum and yellow Composite flowers. One brood beginning in midsummer (July-August at Donner).

Lycaena xanthoides

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:08:33 +0000

Emmel, Emmel and Mattoon think the type material of this species was collected (by Lorquin) in or near Sacramento. The butterfly occurs in bottomland and tule marsh in the Sacramento Valley, but also in upland grassland in the North Coast Range--where it reaches above 6000' in the vicinity of Mendocino Pass. In the Sierra Nevada there are scattered foothill colonies, as at Washington, but it never gets above 3000' in the north. It is replaced at higher elevations by Edith's Copper. What may be intermediate populations, or a hybrid swarm, occur in northwestern California, southwest Oregon, and also in the lower slopes of the White Mountains in Mono and Inyo Counties. These populations have caused a great deal of taxonomic confusion and arm-waving. All the popultions on our transect are, however, unambiguously either xanthoides (Suisun, West Sacramento, North Sacramento, Washington) or editha (Lang, Donner, Sierra Valley).

Single-brooded, flying May to July. The host plant in most places is Curly Dock, Rumex crispus, an introduced weed which is much more widespread than this very colonial butterfly. Its Suisun population has been in decline for years, and it appears to be extinct in West Sacramento. In North Sacramento it is subject to periodic and severe flooding but appears to bounce back regularly. There is substantial individual variation in pattern (both sexes) and color (female uppersides).

An avid flower visitor with very distinct preferences: Gum Plant (Grindelia), Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum), Heliotrope (Heliotropium),white-flowered umbels (Apiaceae) and Tall White-Top or Perennial Peppergrass (Lepidium latifolium). Males are territorial perchers near ground level, and engage in spectacular aerobatic chases. Mark-recapture studies suggest some individuals may live at least a month.