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Bog Copper

Scientific Name

(Lycaena epixanthe)

The Bog Copper, Lycaena epixanthe (Boisduval & LeConte, 1833) is a small butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. This species is found throughout the Northeastern United States and is often seen along acidic bog land (1). While they do love bogs with wild cranberries, you will not find them attracted to commercialized sites due to the use of insecticides and machinery involved for a cranberry farm (2). One major threat to this species is habitat destruction. Conservation of acidic bogs is essential for their survival (3). Some local threats include fire, peat mining, storm floods, beaver dams, and succession (4).

Life Cycle

The Bog Copper has one flight period from June through September. You will often see the males perched on low plants on the lookout for nearby females. After mating, females lay their eggs along the base of cranberry bushes (part of the Ericaceae family) (5).

When the weather begins to cool for the winter months the caterpillar will overwinter in their eggs. This occurrence takes place the majority of the time underwater. When the caterpillar hatches, it forages on the leaves and cranberries. As an adult they can be found feeding on the nectar from the cranberries (5).

Habitat

The Bog Copper prefers acidic bog land with cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and Sphagnum moss ( V. oxycoccos). The habit must be saturated with sun most of the year (4, 6). In Maryland, this species is found near swamp land with Cranberry plants. Cranberry bogs, however, are rare in Maryland but one of the few left can be found in ​a protected area of Cranesville Swamp, Garrett County, MD & Preston County, WV (1).