Great Copper

Resident in central and western North America (Scott 1986). Habitats are UPPER SONORAN TO TRANSITION ZONE PRAIRIE STREAMSIDES, MOIST MEADOWS, FIELDS; CANADIAN TO HUDSONIAN ZONE MOUNTAIN VALLEY BOTTOMS. Hosts plants are usually herbaceous with most known hosts largely restricted to one genus, Rumex, (POLYGONACEAE). Eggs are laid at or near the base of the host plant, singly. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight times between May and Aug, depending on subspecies (Scott 1986). Lycaena xanthoides includes several subspecies (including dione, editha, xanthoides) that are often split out as separate species (Scott 1986).

Lycaena xanthoides, the great copper, is a species of copper in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. It is found in North America.