American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,446 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Copper: observations by month (U.S.)
American Copper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 3,255 | July | Jul–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 1,378 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 1,058 | July | May–Sep |
| Michigan | 775 | July | May–Sep |
| Ohio | 735 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Maine | 714 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Vermont | 684 | June | May–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 579 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Connecticut | 574 | August | May–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 458 | July | May–Sep |
| New Jersey | 424 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Maryland | 386 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Minnesota | 360 | September | May–Sep |
| Virginia | 274 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 169 | July | Jul–Oct |
| North Carolina | 119 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Illinois | 112 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 96 | July | May–Sep |
| West Virginia | 87 | July | May–Sep |
| Delaware | 75 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Tennessee | 24 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 20 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Missouri | 15 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Kentucky | 13 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 10 | May | May–Jul |
| California | 8 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 6 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Wyoming | 6 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 5 | March | Mar–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Summer Azure
Western Pygmy-Blue
Reakirt's Blue
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Copper?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is American Copper most often seen?
The most observations come from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York.