The Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides) is a very common species throughout the West. It can be found in both low and high elevations, usually on, or close to the ground. The name comes from the purple shade on the top of the male. The purple shade does not stay on the wings very long, and eventually the wings look brown. There are still hints of purple on the wings of the male in the top picture.
The Purplish Copper looks very similar to the Lilac-bordered copper, and the two can be easily confused in areas where their territories overlap.
Along with the purple tinge to the wings, the male is characterized by orange spots at the bottom of the wing and dark spots on the wings. There are more dark spots on the male Purplish Copper than the male Lilac-bordered Copper.
The second picture shows a side view. Typically the side view of a Purplish Copper is also contrasted with the Lilac-bordered Copper. The bottom wing of the Purplish Copper does not have a dual tone like the Lilac-bordered Copper.
The link to the Lilac-bordered Copper provides pictures of the male for comparison.
The botom picture perhaps shows the female. It could be a Lilac-bordered Copper, and the darker band at the bottom of the tail could be merely a geographical variation of the species.
