Bronze Copper

The bronze copper (Lycaena hyllus) is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern half of North America. It is found as far north as southern Canada and as far west as Montana and Colorado. It is usually found in wetland habitats, such as marshes and bogs, or open fields, like the ones in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge where I took this pic. Although adults supposedly only visit flowers occasionally this butterfly is drinking nectar from butterfly weed. What butterfly can pass up blooming butterfly weed? Here in Minnesota, and other northern portions of their range, there is usually two broods per year, with a third brood in the southern parts of their range. Their larval host plant is herbs of the buckwheat family.