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Lycaena helloides
Both photos 1 and 2 show the heavy spotting pattern of the upper wings of a Purplish Copper male. The purple sheen is not evident, probably because it is a very worn specimen.
grass field at Fintry Provincial Park, BC. Dry grassland interior by Okanagan Lake.
Thanks to Greenbugs for the ID help! and the link.
Spotted on Jun 21, 2014
Submitted on Jun 30, 2014
5 Comments
Thanks Hema! It was one of those ephemeral moments in the sunshine with a butterfly and my camera....
lovely!
Thanks for the ID help GreenBugs! I have decided on Purplish Copper because of the spotting pattern on the upper wings and the location of my spotting is also further north than the range of the Lilac Bordered Copper in the reference I am using, Butterflies of BC by Acorn and Sheldon. Do you see any other of my Unknown Butterflies which you can take out of that category?!
Purplish Copper butterflies and Lilac Bordered butterflies look very similar...often it's a matter of geographical location, or comparing the number of spots on the top of the forewing to differential between them. In any event, it's one of the two species.
http://greennature.com/article1967.html
Hmmm a fritillary, but which one? This one is very worn.