Piedmont, Italy, July 2012
Valais, Switzerland, June/July 2007
Field notes and information
Widespread and frequently encountered across most of Europe, absent from the UK, Scandinavia and much of Spain.
Identification & Similar species: The dark upperside hindwing eliminates most similar species. Males are sooty black on the upperside. On the underside, a double band of black marginal spots on both wings and a rather uniform greyish ground colour help distinguish the species. The very similar blue sooty copper, L. bleusei, flies in central spain. The species do not overlap. It is separated by the orange on the upperside forewing of the male.
Distribution & Flight: Most of Europe except most of Spain, UK and Scandinavia. It flies in a series of broods through the warmer months.
Habitat & Behaviour: Diverse but usually flowery grassy meadows in grassland, woodland or at alpine levels.
Variation: Extent of orange colouration and markings all vary. At high altitudes, subspecies subalpina flies in which both sexes are very sooty.
S Greece, June 2013
Peloppensos, Greece, July 2018
Cluj, Romania, June 2006
S Greece, June 2013
Piedmont, Italy, July 2012
Macedonia, Greece, May 2004 (f)
Extremely orange female.
Vaud, Switzerland, April/ May 2010
Vaud, Switzerland, May 2009
Cluj, Romania, June 2006
Valais, Switzerland, July 2018
SW Serbia, June 2012
Les Doubs, France, May 2004 (f)
Vaud, Switzerland, July 2006