Last Updated on March 27, 2026 12:28 PM by Miroslav Maric
English name:
Balkan Copper
Full scientific name:
Lycaena candens (Herrich-Schäffer, 1844)
Croatian name:
Balkanski plavac
Flight Period and Life Cycle
1 brood per year. Overwinters as caterpillar.
Distribution in Croatia
Mountains only. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
In males, the upper side of the wings is intensely red in color with a wide dark border. On the hindwing, in the anal zone, a purple glow is visible. In females, the upper side of the forewing is orange-brown. The hindwing is brown and there are orange spots in the submarginal zone. The underside of the forewing is orange-brown in both sexes. The hindwing is brown with a short series of orange spots usually visible in S1-S4 zones. The butterfly is similar to Lycaena hippothoe.
Behavior
Males are more active. Imago feeds with nectar of flowers.
Larval host-plants
Rumex sp.
Habitat
Grassland vegetation with flowers at the edges of woodland. Elevations: 1100-1600m.
Gallery
Literature
(Lorković i Mladinov, 1988): Prvi nalazi vrste L. hippothoe, Glasnik – muzej Sarajevo, br 27