Gorgon Copper (LEP68) Lycaena gorgon

A California copper that is associated with wild buckwheat, as are many gossamer-winged butterflies. The male is purplish brown, but the female shown here has a complicated pattern of pale yellow-orange, black spots, and dusky brown borders and patches. Light orange hoops run along the lower margin of the hindwing. Shown here nectaring on false dandelion.