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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Lycaenidae 77a0479 – 4252   Lycaena cupreus (Edwards, 1870)

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Polygonaceae.  Host genera: Oxyria Rumex.  Notes: dock & sorrels (Allen et al 2005); & other docks (Davenport 2020); larvae eat leaves (Scott 2020).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: cupreus (Edwards, 1870) (Chrysophanus) - MONA 1983: 4252 ssp. a. lapidicola Emmel & Pratt, 1998 (Lycaena)  maculinita (Gunder, 1926) (Heodes) ssp. b. cupreus (Edwards, 1870) (Chrysophanus)  artemisia Scott, 1981 (Lycaena) ssp. c. henryae (Cadbury, 1937) (Chrysophanus)  macdunnoughi dos Passos, 1964 (Lycaena) emend.; TL: (no type).  mcdunnoughi Gunder, 1927 (Lycaena) ssp. d. snowi (Edwards, [1881]) (Chrysophanus)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at iNaturalist Species Page at the Butterflies of America

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