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Description
Copper butterfly enjoying the sun

Large Copper
Lycaena dispar
is a Europeanbutterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The British race of this butterfly (dispar) has been extinct for over 150 years (since 1864). Most of our knowledge of its life cycle and ecology comes from studies of the similar race (batavus) found in The Netherlands. The species can be identified by the silvery hindwing undersides, from the large specimens of the related, more common, drier habitat species Lycaena virgaureae and Lycaena hippothoe.

The white eggs are laid singly on the foodplant, with several eggs sometimes being found together on the same leaf. The eggs hatch in approximately 16 days.The larva does not eat its eggshell on hatching and commences feeding on the underside of the leaf. the larva creates holes in the leaf surface and moves to the midrib of the leaf prior to moulting. The larva overwinters while in the third instar, at the base of the foodplant, typically within leaf litter. The pupa is approximately 11mm in length. This stage lasts between 1 and 6 weeks, depending on temperature.
European/world range
Locally but widely distributed in central Europe as far north as southern Finland, and across to Asia. Divided into three races: dispar formerly in Britain, batavus in the Netherlands (both single brooded), and rutilus (double brooded). The latter is declining in many European countries while batavus is reduced to two sites.
Foodplants
The sole foodplant of the single-brooded races (dispar and batavus) is Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum). Other docks are used by the rutilus race in continental Europe.

Description
Copper butterfly enjoying the sun

Large Copper
Lycaena dispar
is a Europeanbutterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The British race of this butterfly (dispar) has been extinct for over 150 years (since 1864). Most of our knowledge of its life cycle and ecology comes from studies of the similar race (batavus) found in The Netherlands. The species can be identified by the silvery hindwing undersides, from the large specimens of the related, more common, drier habitat species Lycaena virgaureae and Lycaena hippothoe.

The white eggs are laid singly on the foodplant, with several eggs sometimes being found together on the same leaf. The eggs hatch in approximately 16 days.The larva does not eat its eggshell on hatching and commences feeding on the underside of the leaf. the larva creates holes in the leaf surface and moves to the midrib of the leaf prior to moulting. The larva overwinters while in the third instar, at the base of the foodplant, typically within leaf litter. The pupa is approximately 11mm in length. This stage lasts between 1 and 6 weeks, depending on temperature.
European/world range
Locally but widely distributed in central Europe as far north as southern Finland, and across to Asia. Divided into three races: dispar formerly in Britain, batavus in the Netherlands (both single brooded), and rutilus (double brooded). The latter is declining in many European countries while batavus is reduced to two sites.
Foodplants
The sole foodplant of the single-brooded races (dispar and batavus) is Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum). Other docks are used by the rutilus race in continental Europe.