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Life Stages Diagram
The bars in this diagram show approximate times of the year when the butterfly will be present, in Nova Scotia, in its various life stages.

The dates shown for the adult stage are based on actual reports for Nova Scotia. The majority of reports will be within the period shown, but small numbers of adults will be earlier or later.

Dates for egg, larva and pupa are based on what information was available regarding time periods for eggs to develop, and typical time required for pupation. Like the adults, some records can be expected outside the date ranges we have shown. We caution that dates for these immature stages are mostly conjectural.

Maritime Copper - Tharsalea dospassosi
[Maritime Copper image]
Maritime Copper - Wallace Bay NWA, NS - 2011-07-25
Photo © Phil Schappert
What's this?
Status in Nova Scotia
Rare. Records from the Tidnish area, near the New Brunswick border, along the Northumberland Strait as far east as Brule. The Maritimes Butterfly Atlas S-rank for this species is "S2: Rare: May be vulnerable to extirpation due to rarity or other factors (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals)".

Flight Period
Late July - early August

Habitat
Salt marshes.

Larval Foodplants
Silverweed Potentilla egedii.

Similar Species in Nova Scotia
Similar to Dorcas Copper but larger.

Notes
Until recently this species was known as Lycaena dospassosi.

This species is found in salt marshes in Quebec and New Brunswick around the Bay of Chaleur, and has recently been located in several salt marshes along the Northumberland Strait in Nova Scotia.

This species is also called the Salt Marsh Copper. It has been split from the Dorcas Copper Tharsalia dorcas, but some authors disagree with this and consider it a subspecies of the Dorcas Copper. Layberry uses the name Maritime Copper and considers this a valid species.

Further Reading



Maritime Copper - Three Brooks, Pictou Co. NS, 2012-07-19
Maritime Copper - Three Brooks, Pictou Co. NS - 2012-07-19
2012-07-19
Photo © Phil Schappert
Maritime Copper - Wallace Bay NWA, NS, 2012-07-18
Maritime Copper - Wallace Bay NWA, NS - 2012-07-18
2012-07-18
Photo © Phil Schappert
Maritime Copper - North Wallace Road, 2014-07-20
Maritime Copper - Male - North Wallace Road - 2014-07-20
2014-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
Maritime Copper - North Wallace Road, 2014-07-20
Maritime Copper - Male - North Wallace Road - 2014-07-20
2014-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
Maritime Copper - North Wallace Road, 2014-07-20
Maritime Copper - Female - North Wallace Road - 2014-07-20
2014-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
Maritime Copper - North Wallace Road, 2014-07-20
Maritime Copper - Female - North Wallace Road - 2014-07-20
2014-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert