Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Lycaeninae |
| Genus: | Lycaena |
| Species: | phlaeas |
| Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1761) |
The Small Copper is a fast flying butterfly that, once settled, is unmistakable with its bright copper-coloured forewings. It is a widespread species and a familiar and welcome sight for many naturalists throughout the summer months. This butterfly occurs in discrete colonies throughout Britain and Ireland, but is absent from mountainous areas and far north-west Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Most colonies are fairly small, with just a few adults being seen on the wing at any one time.
| #Individuals | #Tetrads | 2022 | 2023 | Abundance Trend | 2022 | 2023 | Distribution Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | 4686 | +155% | 382 | 586 | +53% |
| #Records | #Individuals | Earliest Record | Latest Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Records | 30,975 | 57,140 | 05/03/2009 | 27/11/2003 |
| 2023 | 2,807 | 4,686 | 7/4/2023 | 7/11/2023 |
| Location | Date | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest Record | Southbourne Undercliff | 7/4/2023 | 6 |
| Latest Record | Southbourne Undercliff | 7/11/2023 | 1 |
| Highest Count | Stockbridge Down | 7/10/2023 | 36 |
One of the issues with 'raw' trend data is that there is inherent bias based on the number of recorders. For example, the number of individuals and populated tetrads recorded are likely to increase if there is an increase in the number of recorders. In order to remove this bias, the normalised trends use data that has been recalculated using the average number of recorders over the trend period. This normalisation gives a much better picture of the true trends.
Average #Recorders: 292.2
Average #Recorders: 292.2