Hermes Copper
Encyclopedia
The Hermes Copper is a species of butterfly
in the Lycaenidae
family. It is found in Mexico
and southern California
in the United States
. It is known from a small number of areas. Forest fires in the San Diego area in 2003 and 2007 destroyed most of the populations.
The wingspan
is 25-32 mm. The upperside of the wings is brown with an orange area, which is bordered by black dots. The underside of the wings is bright yellow with black dots.
The larvae feed on Rhamnus crocea
.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
family. It is found in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is known from a small number of areas. Forest fires in the San Diego area in 2003 and 2007 destroyed most of the populations.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 25-32 mm. The upperside of the wings is brown with an orange area, which is bordered by black dots. The underside of the wings is bright yellow with black dots.
The larvae feed on Rhamnus crocea
Rhamnus crocea
Rhamnus crocea is a species of buckthorn. There are two subspecies: Rhamnus crocea subsp. crocea and Rhamnus crocea subsp. pilosa . It is native to California, Arizona, and Baja California....
.
Source
- Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. Lycaena hermes. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.