Small Copper Butterfly Lycaena phlaeas

Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
The Small Copper butterfly is native to most of Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America, with several subspecies over its vast range.
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
The Small Copper butterfly is named after the copper-orange wings with a slight green-blue tinge from hair near the body.
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
It is roughly the size of the Common Blue butterfly and, like the Blue, its "Large" relative became extinct in the UK, but is being re-introduced from Continental stock.
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
Form caeruleopunctata, a variation with pale blue spots on hind wing.
Small Copper butterfly 4-2-2 form
Small Copper butterfly 4-2-2 form
The spots on top of the forewing vary - Southern Europe nominal subspecies above.
Small Copper butterfly 3-2-2 form
L. p. eleus of England, Wales and Scotland.
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
Small Copper butterfly
The orange border on the trailing edge of the hind wings also varies from a fiery irregular shape to a more regular band.