nzButterfly.info > New Zealand Species > Resident Species > Coppers > Common Copper > Varariations

Common Copper pictures of variations

Lycaena salustius

Lowland North Island Variation

This 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.

Common Copper Lowland North Island female upperside

Common Copper Lowland North Island male upperside

Male - Click picture to enlarge - Female

Mountain Variation

With 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.

Common Copper Mountain Variation male mating

Common Copper Mountain Variation male upperside

Male - Click picture to enlarge - Female

Lowland South Island Variation

This has the smallest wingspan of 26-28mm, they have a wider black band around the wing tips.

Common Copper Lowland South Island female upperside

Common Copper Lowland South Island male upperside

Male - Click picture to enlarge - Female

Sub-species

There is a sub-species mentioned in literature, L S Maui (was Chrysophanus maui), but this is a brighter copper-orange colouration of the main species & is only recorded in the male population. This is really the Lowland North Island Variation & hardly constitutes a sub-species to me as it would have to include both genders, which L S Maui does not.