The American Copper is a butterfly and is from the gossamer winged butterfly family.
It is sometimes called the Common Copper or the Small Copper Butterfly.
What Does the American Copper Look Like?
The American Copper has wings that are a bright orange color and they also have a dark border on the outside of their wings.
They have 9 black spots on their wings and their back wings are darker and have an orange border around them.
The front wings have black spots that are outlined with a yellow color and the dark color is more of a grey than a black.
Under their wings is the same colors but they are lighter.
The caterpillar of the American Copper is green, and some have a purple striped down the middle and on each side of their bodies.
They are covered in short hairs and have tiny yellow dots on their tails.
Where Do the American Coppers Live?
The American Copper lives all across North America, Asia and Europe and can even be found in places such as Ethiopia, North Africa, England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
The American Copper likes to live in a habitat that is woodsy and also in clearings, areas that have hills, shrubs, and around cities that are full of waste.
Behavior of the American Copper
The American Copper likes to be active when the sun is shining hot and when the weather is warm.
The male American Copper likes to set up territories and will fight other males to protect their area.
The American Copper will also fight against any insects that try to get in its territory.
The male American Copper likes to look for a female where there are plants and vegetation.
Lifecycle of the American Copper
The American Copper will lay their eggs underneath plant leaves or under leaves on trees.
They will make sure that the leaf has never been touched before.
The American Copper starts out as an egg and then goes to a larva, or caterpillar and then eventually will turn into a butterfly after being in a cocoon.
What Does the American Copper Eat?
The American Copper likes to eat two main types of plants, the Sheep’s Sorrel, which is a flowering plant that is a weed that lives for a long time, and the Common Sorrel which is an herb that lives for a long time.
Both of these plants are perennial plants which means that they live more than two years at a time.
This butterfly also likes to drink nectar from other flowers like buttercups, yarrow and clover.
All of this depends on where they live.
The caterpillar of the American Copper likes to eat from the sorrel plant, as well.
This plant is leafy and found at the ground, so it is easy for them to get to.
American Copper Facts for Kids
- The American Copper is one of the most popular butterflies.
- The American Copper can be found in meadows and pastures.
- The American Copper is most active during spring and towards the end of fall.
- This butterfly will get up to 1.5 inches in size.
- You can tell the difference between the male and female because the male has smaller forelegs while the female’s legs are longer.
What Did You Learn?
What is the American Copper?
The American Copper is a butterfly that is found in Europe, Asia and in North America.
What does the American Copper eat?
Mostly as a caterpillar, the American Copper will eat from the sorrel plant, when the American Copper becomes a butterfly it will drink nectar from different plants in the area that it lives in.
Where does the American Copper live?
The American Copper lives all across the world and is found in areas with hills, grasses, and in cities that have waste.
Will the American Copper fight?
Yes. The American Copper will fight other butterflies and insects that try to invade its territory.
How can you tell the difference between the male American Copper and the female American Copper?
You can tell the difference because of the length of the legs. The male American Copper has shorter legs than the female.
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