Lycaena gorgon | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Lycaenidae |
Genus: | Lycaena |
Species: | L. gorgon |
Binomial name | |
Lycaena gorgon (Boisduval, 1852) | |
Lycaena gorgon, known generally as the gorgon copper or stream water-crowfoot, is a species of copper in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. It is found in North America, [2] [3] [4] mainly in California. [5]
The MONA or Hodges number for Lycaena gorgon is 4255. [6]
Undersides of wings for both sexes is whitish with black spots, with reddish-orange spots on hindwings close to the margin. The uppersides of males' wings are brown with purple sheen, while the upperside of female's wings are brown with yellow markings and black spots. [5]
This butterfly is found in foothills, including chaparral, woodland, and canyons. Its host plant is Eriogonum nudum , and adults feed on flowers of that plant in addition to a variety of others, including milkweed and Eriophyllum lanatum . There is a single annual brood lasting between March and July. [7]
These four subspecies belong to the species Lycaena gorgon: [2]
Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies, with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfly species.
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Lycaena phlaeas, the small copper, American copper, or common copper, is a butterfly of the Lycaenids or gossamer-winged butterfly family. According to Guppy and Shepard (2001), its specific name phlaeas is said to be derived either from the Greek φλέγω (phlégo), "to burn up", or from the Latin floreo, "to flourish".
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The scarce copper is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
The purple-edged copper is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
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Plebejus anna, or Anna's blue, is a species of blue in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. It is found in North America.
Apodemia virgulti, or Behr's metalmark, is a species of metalmark in the butterfly family Riodinidae.
Lycaena xanthoides, the great copper, is a species of copper in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. It is found in North America.