Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761)
(Small Copper)

Subtaxon Example images Rank Featured
subtaxa		 No of
images		 No of
ID refs
Lycaena phlaeas ab. melanophlaeas
a small copper
Aberration 1 ident. refs
Lycaena phlaeas ab. radiata
a small copper
Aberration 1 ident. refs
Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesLycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
GenusLycaena (copper butterflies)
TribeLycaenini (copper butterflies)
SubfamilyLYCAENINAE (copper butterflies)
FamilyLYCAENIDAE (blues, coppers and hairstreaks)
SuperfamilyPAPILIONOIDEA (butterflies)
SuborderGLOSSATA (a suborder of moths)
OrderLEPIDOPTERA (butterflies and moths)
Division Endopterygota (bees, beetles, flies, moths and other insects with wings developing internally)
InfraclassNeoptera (bees, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other advanced insects)
SubclassPTERYGOTA (bees, beetles, dragonflies, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other winged insects)
ClassINSECTA (true insects)
SubphylumHEXAPODA (insects and other 6-legged organisms)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper) :
1: Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
7 Jul 2014 OSGR: SZ19 50° 50’ N, 1° 50’ W Vice County: South Hants (VC 11) England
Image 1: Wings half open - rear three-quarter viewImage 2: Wings half open - rear view
2: Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
24 Apr 2014 OSGR: SY67 50° 30’ N, 2° 30’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
male, damaged and dying at roadside
Image 1: Forewing - dorsal view - highly enlarged - grey backgroundImage 2: Forewing - ventral view - highly enlarged - grey backgroundImage 3: Scales on forewing - dorsal surface - magnifiedImage 4: Scales on forewing - dorsal surface - magnified - grey backgroundImage 5: Scales on forewing - ventral surface - magnifiedImage 6: Scales - close-up - microscope low magnificationImage 7: Scales - extreme close-up - magnifiedImage 8: Scales - extreme close-up - microscope low magnificationImage 9: Scales - extreme close-up - microscope low magnification (2)
3: Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
13 Aug 2009 OSGR: SX37 50° 30’ N, 4° 20’ W Vice County: East Cornwall (VC 2) England
visiting Hemp Agrimony
Image 1: Visitng Hemp AgrimonyImage 2: Visitng Hemp Agrimony (2)
4: Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
20 Jul 2004 OSGR: SU58 51° 30’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: Dorsal - wings apartImage 2: Dorsal - wings apart (2)
5: Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
17 Aug 2003 OSGR: SY59 50° 50’ N, 2° 40’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
Feeding at Common Fleabane flowers
Image 1: Top view - wings ajarImage 2: Top view - wings ajar (2)Image 3: Top view - wings ajar (3)Image 4: Top view - wings ajar (4)Image 5: Top view - wings ajar (5)Image 6: Top view - wings ajar (6)
6: Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
5 Oct 1975 OSGR: SU84 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
Image 1: Wings together - under side - enlargedImage 2: Wings together - under side - enlarged (2)Image 3: Wings together - under side - enlarged (3)
7: Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
10 Aug 1968 OSGR: TQ31 50° 60’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
Image 1: Wings apart - upper side

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Jones, R.A. 2005 Lycaena phlaeas forewing homoeosis Vol 18 Page: Plate 1
Revels, R. 2002 Small Copper Vol 14, No. 2 Page: 128

Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 1 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper)
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