Bronze Copper & American copper
Male Bronze Copper. The males and females of this species look quite different from one another. Males are bright purple and orange.
Underside of a Bronze Copper butterfly. Bronze Coppers live in wetland habitats and along river banks. This species can be found at several of the Beaver Creek Wetlands parks, particularly Siebenthaler Fen. I have also seen them at Cedar Bog and along the Great Miami River.
Female Bronze Copper. The dorsal wing pattern is similar to that of the American Copper (further below), but Bronze Coppers are larger and they prefer wetter habitat.
American Copper with its wings open. Some researchers believe that the American Copper might have been introduced from Europe, but this theory is disputed, and others believe that these butterflies are native to both continents. Our "American" Coppers are called Small Coppers in Europe.
This is an American Copper butterfly. They are smaller than Bronze Coppers and found in drier habitats (such as fields and meadows). Notice that there is a distinctive thin red line on the hindwing. American Coppers are quite uncommon in our area; the only place where I have encountered them to date is Huffman Prairie. I find American Coppers at Huffman Prairie in small numbers from late June through early August.
Bronze Copper nectaring on a tiny aster flower. Bronze Coppers fly from late May through early October. (My personal early and late sightings are May 26th and October 13th.)
