- Family: Lycaenidae
- Scientific name: Lycaena phlaeas
- English common name: Small Copper
- Spanish common name: Manto bicolor
- Portuguese common name: Acobreada
The Small Copper – Lycaena phlaeas – Manto bicolor is a fairly common small butterfly that flies low through meadows. Despite its small size it is easily seen due to the bright orange colours. The colours and patterns do vary through its range but generally he upper fore wings are a strong orange with black spots and a brown trim.
The upper hind wing is the reverse being brown with an orange band at the base. On the underside the fore wing is orange with black spots with a grey brown trim. The hind wing is more plain, grey / brown sometimes with a fine orange wavy line.
Some of the variations on the upper wings include; a sooty colour, blue / green sheen, blue spots near the rear orange band.
The caterpillars of this species grow to 1.5cm in length, they can be plain green or with pink stripes.
- Wing size: 24-30mm
- Altitude: 0-2400m
- Flight time: May-October
- Over-wintering: Caterpillar
- Caterpillar food plant: Rumex (Dock and Sorrel)
- Distribution: Widespread in Europe, north Africa
Similar species: Violet Copper (Lycaena helle) the upper wings have a violet sheen, the under side hind wing has black spots ringed in white
Butterflies of Iberia. These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia. Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.
Ronda Today
Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/
The Caminito del Rey
Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/
Wildside Holidays – Spain
Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.
Iberia Nature Forum
Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!
Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain.