Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)

Widespread from the Great Lakes westward to British Columbia and California. Formerly treated as Lycaena helloides.
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) #2878
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Bitterroot River below Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
14 July 2013

Females are mostly orange with dark spots above.


Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) #3854
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Bitterroot River below Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
25 May 2016

Fresh males sport a purple sheen with dark spots above.


Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) #4766
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
2 Sep 2013

Above, males have smaller black spots and are overall bronze-colored with a variable purple sheen.


Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) #0297
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
3 Sep 2013

Viewing angle alters visibility of purple sheen as seen on this individual from two different angles.


Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) #5520
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
16 Sep 2013

Above, females have bolder black spots among an oranger background.


Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) #9492
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Whaley Draw near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
1 July 2014

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
#6423
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
MPG Ranch Education Garden, Missoula Co., MT
3 Oct 2014
#6490
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
MPG Ranch Education Garden, Missoula Co., MT
3 Oct 2014

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
#5097
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
6 Sep 2013
#4211
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
27 Aug 2014

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
#4301
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
27 Aug 2014
#0389
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
MPG North, Missoula Co., MT
6 Sep 2013

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
16 Sep 2013
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Bitterroot River Floodplain, Missoula Co., MT
3 July 2015

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) #4844
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Tongue Creek, Missoula Co., MT
8 Sep 2014

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
#2973
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
MPG Ranch south pivot, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015
#7918
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
MPG North, near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
27 June 2015

#4191
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
1 June 2016

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Bitterroot River Floodplain, MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
10 June 2015

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
2 Sep 2013

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides), female
Morrell Lookout, Powell Co., MT
14 July 2015

Although I've included this butterfly here, this individual may best be treated as a Florus Copper (Tharsalea florus), which is currently listed in the Pelham Catalog as a subspecies of Dorcas Copper. Note the very reduced amount of orange in the submargin of the hind wings, especially dorsally.



Below are Washington state Purplish Coppers
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides), female
Johnston Ridge Visitor Center
Mt. St. Helens, WA
11 Aug 2004
#1737
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides), female
Johnston Ridge Visitor Center
Mt. St. Helens, WA
11 Aug 2004
#1741


Below are Utah Purplish Coppers
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT
18 June 2005
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT
18 June 2005

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides), male
Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT
18 June 2005
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides), male
Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT
18 June 2005

Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides) Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Wasatch Mt. State Park, Wasatch Co., UT
14 July 2014
Purplish Copper (Tharsalea helloides)
Wasatch Mt. State Park, Wasatch Co., UT
14 July 2014


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Created on ... May 5, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com