nzButterfly.info > New Zealand Species > Resident Species > Coppers > Common Copper > Varariations
Common Copper pictures of variations
Lycaena salustius
Lowland North Island VariationThis variation has the largest wingspan at about 30mm, has fairly consistent colouration, but with less black spots & narrower lines along the veins. It does have the greatest sexual dimorphism where the females have substantially darker bands on the wings then the males, this lead to the idea of a sub-species (L S Maui) mentioned at the bottom of this page.
Male - Click picture to enlarge - Female
Mountain VariationWith a wingspan about 27mm, the males copper is slightly duller & has broader black markings
which merge at the wing bases. On the female the blue patches are more predominant.
Note: This is published in other publications as the Cook Strait coast & Southern Alps
Variation. I have seen several Common Coppers that match this description in Whirinaki Forest Park
& have being provided pictures from upland Hawkes Bay of similar looking specimens.
Male - Click picture to enlarge - Female
Lowland South Island VariationThis has the smallest wingspan of 26-28mm, they have a wider black band around the wing tips.
Male - Click picture to enlarge - Female
Sub-species