Sooty Copper Butterfly - Lycaena tityrus

Phylum: Arthropoda - Class: Insecta - Order: Lepidoptera - Family: Lycaenidae

The Sooty Copper has only been recorded about four times in Britain, and it is unclear whether all of these specimens arrived 'naturally' (carried on the wind) or with human assistance.

Description

The dark upperside hindwing helps distinguish the Sooty Copper from most otherwise similar species. The wings of males have sooty black backgrounds to their uppersides, while on the undersides there is a double band of black marginal spots on both forewings and hindwings. Females have mainly orange upper forewings and a complete row of submarginal orange lunules on the hindwing.

Distribution

The Sooty Copper is native to central Europe including Germany, France Austria and Italy down to the northern fringes of Spain and eastwards into parts of Asia.

Habitat

These little butterflies can be seen in sparsely-grazed grasslands as well as in heathland areas.

Lifecycle

Eggs are laid singly on the upperside of the leaves of the foodplant - mainly Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa - and the smaller Sheep's Sorrel Rumex acetosella, although other kinds of docks may also be used occasionally.

Once the caterpillars emerge from the eggs they move to the undersides if leaves and feed there. The Sooty Copper butterfly overwinters in its caterpillar state. In the spring, pupation takes place among the grassland leaf litter. In Central Europe there are usually two broods and occasionally three; the adults can be seen on the wing between May and September.

Etymology

The origin of the specific epithet tityrus is unclear, but Tityrus is the name of the shepherd in Virgil's Ecologues.

Acknowledgements

This page includes pictures kindly contributed by Rob Petley-Jones.

Studying butterflies and moths...