About Tharsalea arota (Boisduval, 1852)
Tharsalea arota (Boisduval, 1852), also called Lycaena arota and the tailed copper, is a butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae. This species is distributed across North America: it ranges north and west from New Mexico to Oregon, and extends south to southern California and Baja California, Mexico. Its average wingspan measures between 30 and 35 mm. Adults are active from May to August, with one generation produced each year. Butterfly migration may be triggered by multiple factors, including the distribution of food plants, evasion of natural enemies, and climate change. Adult tailed coppers feed on flower nectar. Larvae of this species feed on the leaves of Ribes species. The species survives the winter in the egg stage. It is often confused with two related species: Lycaena gorgon and Lycaena xanthoides.
