The sooty copper

The sooty copper is a total celebrity, not only amongst the butterflies at Bøtø, but among all the animals in the area. It is, to a great extent, the reason that Bøtø Nature Reserve even exists. Bøtø is the only place in Denmark where you can be sure to find the very compact, dark-brown and black-spotted elegant little butterfly. It was once more common in Denmark, but since the late 1990s, South Falster has been the only part of the country in which you can find it. All other populations have vanished, so it is only at Bøtø from May to June, and again from July to August that you may be lucky enough to see it.

The sooty copper prefers semi-open areas with flowers and grass – preferably on sandy soil. It lays its eggs on common sorrel and red sorrel plants.

You should, of course, never try to catch or collect sooty copper butterflies, but there’s nothing wrong with trying to photograph them, though this can be quite a challenge!