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Mila'sExotic Plants & CuriositiesA living collection by Luminary OdditiesLuminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Lycaena phlaeas
Lepidoptera / Lycaenidae
The Small Copper has reddish-gold forewings with dark spots and a dark border, paired with brown hindwings carrying a red marginal band. Its larvae feed on docks and sorrels; seasonal schedules vary strongly between temperate and Arctic populations.
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The upper forewing ranges from bright reddish-gold to heavily darkened brown, with a discal spot, further dark dots and a black border. The brown hindwing has a red submarginal band. Beneath, small dark spots accompany fine red hindwing crescents. Females are slightly larger. [1]
European populations extend east through Asia Minor and the Caucasus. Albanian butterflies inhabit flower-rich meadow banks, rough ground, roadsides, parks and gardens from lowlands to approximately 2,000 m. [1]
Alaskan records extend from the Arctic coastal plain and Brooks Range through the Seward Peninsula and interior to the Alaska Range. Habitats include wet tundra, bogs, stream benches and moist rocky slopes. [2]
Keep the enclosure closed and display it in indirect light, away from heat and damp conditions. Handle the frame by its edges and clean only its exterior according to the maker’s instructions.
Cuvelier and Paparisto, Butterflies of Albania, University of Tirana (updated 2026) · Accessed 2026-10-11
Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage (2017) · Accessed 2026-10-11
Sources checked 2026-10-11. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
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