lycaena tityrus

Sooty Copper (lycaena tityrus)

2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.


8503_male_Alpes de Haute Provence_24Jul07	13649_male_Lozere_21Aug08	13228_male_Valais, Switzerland_19Jul08

2828_male_Var_21Jul06	11808_male_Alpes Maritimes_30Jun08	8511_female_Alpes de Haute Provence_24Jul07

7371_female_Alpes Maritimes_24Jun07	14061_female_Var_28Aug08	11805_female_Alpes Maritimes_30Jun08

This species seems to be quite common, appearing in nearly every locality we have been to, but not in great numbers. The female has the usual upperside copper markings, but the male is uniformly dark brown with some orange submarginal marks, with the upf black markings showing through clearly. The male underside has a silvery-white ground colour with a “square” corner at the hindwing anal angle, whereas the female is more rounded, with heavier, more orange markings. A delightful little butterfly that seems quite easy to follow as it has a habit or returning to the same place. It has wide altitude range, from lowland areas, up to 2000m or more. At high altitudes, the form dark, almost black, form subalpinus predominates.

8503: a fresh (perfect white margins) and fairly typical male, with slightly stronger than normal orange lunules especially on the upf. Altitude 700m.

13649: a male.

13228: a male of the alpine form subalpinus.

2828: a male underside, rather browner unh and more suffused dusky grey unf. Altitude 800m.

11808: a male underside of the form subalpinus.

8511: a typical, if slightly worn, female. Altitude 700m.

7371: a female of the alpine subspecies subalpinus, with slightly stronger than normal marginal markings, even a slight hint of orange, on both the upf and uph. Altitude 2100m.

14061: a typical female underside.

11805: a female underside of the form subalpinus.

8503_male_Alpes de Haute Provence_24Jul07