description Bog Copper Overview
The bog copper, Lycaena epixant, is a small butterfly of acidic peatlands and bogs in northeastern North America. Its life cycle is closely tied to cranberry plants, which serve as larval food plants and egg-laying sites. Adults have coppery orange and brown coloration, while the species' wetland habitat can be affected by drainage, development, and changes in water conditions.
help Bog Copper FAQ
What is the bog copper's scientific name and habitat?
The bog copper is Lycaena epixanthe, a small butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It lives in acidic peatlands, cranberry bogs, and other wet northeastern North American habitats.
Why is the bog copper so closely tied to cranberries?
Cranberry plants provide the main larval food and an important adult nectar source. The species uses large cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, and may also use small cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos. [New Jersey Butterfly Club species account](https://www.njbutterflies.org/butterflies/bog_copper.html)
How can I distinguish a bog copper from a bronze copper?
The bog copper is very small, roughly an inch across, with dull gray-brown upper wings and orange markings near the edges. Bronze coppers are larger and usually show much stronger orange coloration.
What is unusual about the bog copper's life cycle?
It usually has one brood per year, and the egg is the overwintering stage. Adults fly low over the bog, often near cranberry plants, which makes them easy to miss in dense wetland vegetation.
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