 |
 |
 |
|
| UK Status |
|
|
|
| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
|
|
| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
|
|
| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
|
|
| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
|
|
| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Description
The Large Copper is a beautiful butterfly with shiny metallic wings. The upperside of the male is primarily orange with dark brown edges while the female is darker above with larger dark edges and many dark spots. The underside of both are pale blue with orange marginal band on the hindwing and pale orange with pale blue marginal band on the forewing. See illustration for more information.
Unfortunately the British Native Race of the Large Copper (Lycaena dispar dispar) has been extinct for over 150 years.
It is thought that Wicken Fen in Cambridgehire may have held a population of the British Race of the Large Copper and several attempts have been made to re-introduce this species to the UK albeit using a different sub-species from mainland Europe.
In 1909, GH Verrall attempted to re-introduce the Large Copper to Wicken Fen using the race Lycaena dispar rutilus which he had collected from Berlin. In 1930, another attempt was made, this time using the race Lycaena dispar batavus collected from sites in Holland. In an attempt to improve the chances of this re-introduction, many Water Dock plants were introduced to Verrall’s Fen between 1929-30. The introduction of Butterfly and Foodplant was initially sucessfull with the species spreading to Adventurers’ Fen. Unfortunately, Adventurers’ Fen was drained in the 1940's... subsiquently causing the extinction of the species again.
No other attempts have been made to re-introduce the Large Copper to the UK although research is currently being undertaken in order to acertain the feasibility of another re-introduction attempt at Wicken Fen along with similar research in the Norfolk Broads. It does however need to be made clear that the original native British Species can never be replaced and is lost forever.
Habitat
Fenland with a good population of Water Dock grows in open sunny conditions the larval foodplant.
Larval Food Plants
Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum) for both single-brooded races dispar and batavus. Other docks are used by rutilus in continental Europe.
British Subspecies
The following sub-species of the Large Copper British Race occur in the UK.
 Large Copper British Race - Lycaena dispar dispar -
|
|
|
| Distribution |
|
 |
The British Race which is extinct originally occured in the Fens of Lincolnshire Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Huntingdonshire and Somerset. Due to the extensive drainage of these areas, this species became extinct in Britain in 1864. The last individuals were recorded at Whittlesey Mere in Huntingdonshire and Bottisham Fen, Cambridgeshire.
Outside the UK, the Large Copper can be found locally in central Europe as north as southern Finland, and east in to Asia. There are three races: dispar formerly in Britain, batavus in the Netherlands, both of which are single brooded and rutilus which is double brooded. The latter is declining in many European countries while batavus is reduced to two sites. |
|
 |
|
| Where to see the Large Copper British Race |
| - |
|
| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Large Copper British Race is a extinct species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  not applicable |
(1976-2004) not applicable |
|
|
1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not applicable (link) |
|
|
| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 regionally extinct4 |
|
|
3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Large Copper British Race can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
|
|
|
|
Aberrations and Forms |
|
|
| We currently know of 4 named aberrant forms of the Large Copper British Race. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. bilineata - Tutt (1906) |
|
| ab. cuneigera - Tutt (1906) |
|
| ab. neurata - Tutt (1906) |
|
| ab. unilineata - Tutt (1906) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
|
|
|
|
44-52mm
