UK Butterflies

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Purple-shot Copper

Lycaena alciphron

ly-SEE-nuh AL-kee-fron

Checklist Number
61.0023

Purple-shot Copper

Lycaena alciphron

ly-SEE-nuh AL-kee-fron

Checklist Number
61.0023


A single specimen was captured by a schoolboy in July 1886 near Sudbury in Suffolk. It is thought that the specimen was transported as an immature stage in plants from the continent.

The species was first defined in Rottemburg (1775) as shown here (type locality: Berlin, Germany). The nominate subspecies has not been recorded in Britain or Ireland.

This subspecies was first defined in Sulzer (1776) as shown here and as shown in this plate. Records from Britain and/or Ireland are of this subspecies.

 
Family:LycaenidaeLeach, 1815
Subfamily:LycaeninaeLeach, 1815
Tribe:LycaeniniLeach, 1815
Genus:LycaenaFabricius, 1807
Subgenus:  
Species:alciphronRottemburg, 1775
Subspecies:gordius (Sulzer, 1776)