Early California butterfly enthusiast John A. Comstock was enchanted by the Hermes copper butterfly, describing it in 1927 as “a fascinating little sprite.” But even as far back as the '20s, it was ...

HABITAT: The Hermes copper is dependent for survival on its spiny redberry host plant, common in cismontane California coastal sage scrub and chaparral vegetation communities. But for unknown reasons, ...

Nationally, the 14-year trends show that 11 species (65%) are declining, and three species (18%) – Red Admiral, Holly Blue and Small Copper – are increasing. Butterfly Conservation is calling ...