Small Copper butterfly

Lycaena phlaeas

family - Lycaenidae (blues, Coppers & Hairstreaks)

The Small Copper butterfly has coppery-orange wings edged with brown.

My personal observations of the Small Copper butterfly

months seen in my garden: August (but August to October elsewhere)

garden plants that attract this species: Buddleia Nanho Blue, Cimicifuga, Helenium, Pot Marigold, Scabious, Verbena

butterfly sightings 2005:

Small Copper on Ox-eye daisy in countryside, 26 June
Small Copper on Thistle, Cirencester Park, 20 August

top 4 memorable images of 2003:

On Verbena. August 23.

On Helenium at Westonbirt International Festival of Gardens. August 30.

The few images from previous years:

September 2002 on Verbena at Westonbirt
August 2001 in the Malvern Hills
October 2000 on Cimicifuga at Cothele

observations:

I had not seen a Small Copper butterfly in my garden until 2003, when there were visits on August 23 and August 30. I had seen them elsewhere on garden plants though.

Reference Section

Size: 32-35mm (smaller than Small White - see list of butterflies by size)

First Generation flight period: April-June
Second Generation flight period: July-August
Third Generation flight period: September-October

Larval Food Plants: Sorrels and Docks
Adult food plants: Ox-eye Daisy

Family Group: Lycaenidae - see list of butterflies by family