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Great Copper

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description Great Copper Overview

The Great Copper (Lycaena dispar) is a large butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae, characterized by its bright orange upperwings marked with dark spots. The nominate British subspecies, L. d. dispar, went extinct around 1848 due to the extensive drainage of its fenland habitats in East Anglia.

While the British population is entirely lost, other subspecies of the Great Copper survive in continental Europe and Asia, where they typically inhabit damp meadows and marshy environments. Conservationists in the UK have made multiple historical attempts to reintroduce the butterfly using these continental variants, though long-term success has been limited.

help Great Copper FAQ

Why did the Great Copper disappear from Britain?

The British nominate subspecies Lycaena dispar dispar disappeared after extensive drainage reduced the fenland habitat it needed. The loss of Water Dock, its main larval food plant, was a major part of that decline.

What does the Great Copper butterfly look like?

The Great Copper has bright orange upperwings marked with dark spots, making it larger and more striking than many British copper butterflies. Its scientific name is Lycaena dispar.

Where can Lycaena dispar still be found?

The species survives in parts of continental Europe through other subspecies, including the Dutch Large Copper Lycaena dispar batavus. That is different from the extinct British nominate subspecies.

What plant do Great Copper caterpillars need?

Great Copper larvae depend on water dock, Rumex hydrolapathum, in wet fen habitats. Drainage of places such as the Cambridgeshire fens removed both the wetland and much of that food supply.

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