Melanolycaena altimontana altimontana

Interesting Facts

Description

Subfamily Lycaeninae

Coppers are members of the Family Lycaenidae. They are found in sunny, open habitats throughout the temperate zone, with 50 species found in Eurasia and North America. One isolated species lives on volcanoes in Guatemala, and a few species live in New Guinea, New Zealand, and northern Africa. No species are known migrants, but several are local colonists . Coppers typically have upper wing surfaces that are iridescent purple or red-orange, but some North American species are blue, brown, or gray. Males perch and interact with other males while awaiting receptive females. Most species have a single brood and overwinter as eggs or as first instar caterpillars within the egg. The caterpillars feed on leaves of host plants , which in North America are docks, knotweeds, buckwheats, cinquefoils, gooseberries, currants, or redberry.[1]

Taxonomy

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Kingdom: Animalia () - animals
- Phylum: Arthropoda () - Arthropods
  - Class: Insecta () - Insects
    - Order: Lepidoptera () - Butterflies and Moths
      - Family: Papilionoidea ()
        Subfamily: Lycaeninae () - Coppers
        Genus: Melanolycaena ()
        Specific name: altimontana - Sibatani, 1974
        Subspecies: altimontana
        Scientific name: - Melanolycaena altimontana altimontana Sibatani, 1974