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Lycaena phlaeas

Small Copper

Andalucia, Spain, October 2005

Andalucia, Spain, October 2005

Var, France, April 2006

Vaud, Switzerland, August 2006

Var, France, April 2006

Lesbos, Greece, April 2005

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005

Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005

Provence, France, April 2004

Crete, June 2004

Crete, June 2004

Samos, Greece, June 2002

Macedonia, Greece, July 2000

This butterfly is very widespread and often common to abundant depending on locality and time of year. It is rather small but the bright upperside rich orange red colouration makes it stand out from a good distance. It flies fast and usually low making it difficult to follow on the wing. It is very variable in extent of the orange and on the upperside hindwing the presence and extent of blue markings and the underside hindwing brightness.