English name:
Purple-shot Copper
Full scientific name:
Lycaena alciphron (Rottemburg, 1775)
Croatian name:
Ljubičasti vatreni plavac
Flight Period and Life Cycle
1 brood per year. Overwinters as caterpillar.
Distribution in Croatia
The entire territory excluding islands and far south. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
In males, the upper side of the wings is predominantly orange in color. Towards the edges of the wings there is a visible purple-blue glare. The glare is more prominent on the upper side of the forewing. In females, the upper side of the wings is brown. The orange spots are more prominent in the submarginal zone of the hindwing. In males, there are more intense colors on the upper side of the wings. In females, on the underside of the wings the colors are a bit more saturated than in males.
Behavior
Imago feeds with nectar of various flowers. Males are more active.
Caterpillar Host Plants
Genus Rumex like R. acetosa, R. scutatus and R. acetosella.
Habitat
Flowering grassland vegetation. It is common in wetter meadows. Elevations: 100-1500m.
Gallery
