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Species Details
Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameMariposa Copper
SeasonalityOne yearly flight, peaking in mid July to early August.
IdentificationThe mottled grey and black underside makes this a very distinctive copper. Subspecies penroseae occurs in Alberta.
Scientific Name
Lycaena mariposa
Common Name
Mariposa Copper
Habitat
Meadows and clearings in coniferous forest.
Seasonality
One yearly flight, peaking in mid July to early August.
Identification
The mottled grey and black underside makes this a very distinctive copper. Subspecies penroseae occurs in Alberta.
Life History
Unlike many of the other coppers in Alberta, Mariposa is usually not associated with wetlands. Trails and clearings in the lodgepole pine forests of the foothills are good places to look for this species.
Conservation
Not of concern.
Diet Info
Canadian populations were originally believed to feed on members of the Polygonaceae (Polygonum douglasii and Rumex, Hooper 1973, Bird et al. 1995). Recent evidence shows that bog billberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) and…
Canadian populations were originally believed to feed on members of the Polygonaceae (Polygonum douglasii and Rumex, Hooper 1973, Bird et al. 1995). Recent evidence shows that bog billberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) and small cranberry (V. oxycoccos) are hosts in BC (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Vaccinium species will likely prove to be the hostplants in Alberta.
Range
A western cordilleran species; occurs from the southern Yukon south to Central California and Wyoming. Ranges east in the boreal forest to west-central Saskatchewan (Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999).
Citation
Page Citation for Lycaena mariposa
Page Citation
"Species Details - Lycaena mariposa, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2626/9-203. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
References
Author
Opler, Paul A.
Title
A field guide to western butterflies.
Publication Date
1999
Pages
540
Author
Bird, C. D., G.J. Hilchie, N.G. Kondla, E.M. Pike and F. A. H. Sperling
Title
Alberta Butterflies
Publication Date
1995
Pages
349
Author
Guppy, Crispin S. and Jon H. Shepard
Title
Butterflies of British Columbia.
Publication Date
2001
Pages
414
Author
Layberry, Ross A.; Hall, Peter W. and J. Donald LaFontaine
Title
The Butterflies of Canada
Publication Date
1998
Pages
280
Author
Hooper, R.R.
Title
The Butterflies of Saskatchewan
Publication Date
1973
Pages
216 pp.
Specimen Information
There are 36 specimens of this Species.
UASM180 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1920-07-02
UASM181 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM182 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM183 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM184 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Moraine Lake
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1928-08-03
UASM185 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1920-07-02
UASM186 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM187 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM188 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Hillcrest
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1926-06-26
UASM189 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM190 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1925-07-18
UASM191 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1926-07-17
UASM192 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM193 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM194 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1926-08-10
UASM195 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1931-08-10
UASM21038 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1925-07-18
UASM21039 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByMackie, Donald
Date Collected1925-07-20
UASM21040 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1925-07-18
UASM21041 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Lake Louise
Collected ByMackie, Donald
Date Collected1925-08-27
UASM21042 - Lycaena mariposa
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary
Collected ByWolley-Dod, Frederic H.
Date Collected1900-07-12