Large copper
| Large copper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male | |
 | |
| Mounted | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Lycaena |
| Species: | L. dispar |
| Binomial name | |
| Lycaena dispar (Haworth, 1803) | |
The large copper (Lycaena dispar) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The insect has a wide range occurring throughout the northern Palearctic ecozone north to the middle taiga zone (Euro-Siberian region).
Subspecies
- L. d. dispar (Haworth, 1802) − England − Extinct
- L. d. rutila (Werneberg, 1864) − Europe, Caucasus, Transcaucasia, N. Tien-Shan, W. Tien-Shan, Dzhungarsky Alatau, Ghissar
- L. d. festiva Krulikowsky, 1909 − Ural, W. Siberia
- L. d. dahurica (Graeser, 1888) − Transbaikalia, W.Amur
- L. d. aurata Leech, 1887 − Siberia, E. Amur, Ussuri.
England, Ireland and The Netherlands
The British subspecies of this butterfly (L. d. dispar) has been extinct for over 144 years (since 1864). Most of our knowledge of its life cycle and ecology comes from studies of the similar subspecies (L. d. batava') found in The Netherlands. The species can be identified by the silvery hindwing undersides, from the large specimens of the related, more common, drier habitat species Lycaena virgaureae and Lycaena hippothoe.
Conservation
This species was formerly classified as a priority for protection and re-introduction in the UK under its national Biodiversity Action Plan. The species was driven to extinction in Britain by drainage and consequent great reduction of fen habitat. In the rest of the Western Europe, the draining of wetlands and building and agricultural activity on shallow riverbanks has caused a strong decline. In Eastern Europe, undeveloped riverbanks and deltas are a habitat for the species, though even there it is somewhat threatened due increasing human influence on these areas.
There have been several reintroduction attempts to sites in both Britain and Ireland, but these have all ultimately failed. Research is now being conducted to see whether a further attempt is worthwhile in more extensive habitats available in the Great Fen project and the Norfolk Broads.
Subspecies Lycaena dispar batava
The subspecies Lycaena dispar batava is only found in marshy areas in North West Overijssel (the areas Weerribben and Wieden) in the Netherlands. Furthermore, it only feeds on Rumex hydrolapathum, making it a vulnerable subspecies. To protect the subspecies, there is a conservation plan, mainly aimed at expanding its habitat.
References
- Gimenez Dixon, M. (1996). Lycaena dispar. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.. Downloaded on 13 February 2007.