Flutter and Discover Facts!
- With wings that are a bright, metallic orange-red color, they gleam in the desert sun just like a brand-new copper coin.
- Even though they are a different color, copper butterflies belong to the same family as the tiny blue butterflies.
- If you look closely when they rest, you will see their bright wings are decorated with little black and white spots.
- Boy copper butterflies are very territorial and will fly out to chase away other insects and birds.
- Coppers like to sit together on wet dirt to sip up water and healthy desert minerals.
- They have a secret friendship with ants. Copper butterfly caterpillars make a sweet sugary liquid that ants love to eat. In return, the ants protect the caterpillars from predators like a team of tiny bodyguards.
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High Desert Helpers is sponsored through the Trails+ Grant Program by the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division.
