The Bronze Copper is a striking butterfly found in southern Canada and across much of the United States, especially in wet meadows, marshes, and along streams. Males have iridescent coppery-brown upper wings, while females display yellow-orange forewings marked with black spots. The underside of the forewings in both sexes is orange with black spots. The hindwing underside is pale grayish white with scattered black spots and a broad orange band along the outer edge.

 

“Bronze Copper” by Douglas Mills, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Bronze Copper Facts

Butterfly Family: Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Lycaeninae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/4 – 1 7/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Low, wet areas such as bogs, marshes, wet meadows, and ponds

 

🪴Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Curly Dock (Rumex crispus)

• Sorrel (Rumex spp.)

• Water Dock (Rumex orbiculatus)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Bronze Copper butterflies feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blackberry (Rubus spp.)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)