What does the Eltham Copper Butterfly need to survive?
Sweet Bursaria provides vital habitat and must be protected from over burning for the butterfly to survive. In the past, areas of planned fuel reduction burning have included sites where Eltham Copper Butterflies live.
Why is the Eltham copper butterfly endangered?
Particularly loss of the dwarf Sweet Bursaria and loss of habitat supporting Notoncus sp. of ants. Land clearing and stock grazing can reduced ground cover species. There are many cases where the Sweet Bursaria has been heavily browsed which retards ecological value for the Eltham Copper Butterfly.
Is the Eltham copper butterfly endangered?
The Eltham Copper Butterfly is an endangered species and we are required by federal and state law to avoid impacting its habitat.
What is the Copper Butterfly?
Copper butterfly, (subfamily Lycaeninae), any member of a group of butterflies in the gossamer-winged butterfly family, Lycaenidae (order Lepidoptera). The copper’s typical coloration ranges from orange-red to brown, usually with a copper tinge and dark markings.
What do Eltham copper butterflies eat?
Sweet Bursaria
Adult butterflies lay their eggs on the roots and stems of Sweet Bursaria. Once the eggs hatch, the ants guard the caterpillars (providing protection from predators) ushering the larvae to and from the ant nest at the base of the shrub, to feed on the Sweet Bursaria leaves at night.
Is the small copper butterfly rare?
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.
How big is a small copper butterfly?
between 30 – 35mm
Identification of the Small Copper butterfly Wingspan ranges between 30 – 35mm with females slightly larger and with more rounded forewing tips than the males. Other similar ‘Copper species’ are featured in the European butterfly gallery.
What can we do to help the Eltham Copper Butterfly?
Support sustainable populations of other rare and threatened species found within the Eltham Copper Butterfly sites as well the Eltham Copper Butterfly itself. Increase the resilience of the Eltham Copper Butterfly sites to weed invasion and other threats. Coordinate weed control across property boundaries.
How long do copper butterflies live?
The vast vegetation and greenery in these areas help the caterpillar to survive. American copper (Lycaena phlaeas) adult butterflies only live for a short period of two weeks or no longer than 16 days.
Where does the small copper butterfly live?
Occurs in a wide variety of habitats. Commonly found on chalk or unimproved grassland, heathland, woodland clearings, waste ground and moorland. Warm, dry conditions are favoured.
Are small copper butterflies rare?
What do copper butterflies eat?
Rauparaha’s copper (mokarakare) They live mainly along coastal dunes, although they can be found wherever their food plants grow. Their caterpillars eat mainly wire vine (pohuehue) and creeping pohuehue.
How big does the Eltham copper butterfly get?
The Eltham copper butterfly is small with bright copper colouring on the tops of its wings, which is visible during the summer flight season. It has a wingspan of 25 to 27 mm. The underside of both wings is brown of various shades, with a series of darker brown, irregular, ‘zig zag’ lines.
Are there any copper butterflies left in Victoria?
The area around Eltham supports the largest of the few remaining populations of the threatened Eltham Copper Butterfly (ECB) in Victoria. It was first discovered around Eltham in 1938 and was thought to have become extinct around the 1950’s.
What kind of butterfly has copper on its wings?
The Eltham Copper Butterfly is a small and attractive butterfly with bright copper colouring on the tops of its wings visible during the summer flight season. It is an unusual species due to its close symbiotic association with a group of ants from the genus Notoncus and the shrub Sweet Bursaria ( Bursaria spinosa ).
Why are there so many butterflies in Eltham?
Urbanisation and associated human activity such as weed invasion, rubbish dumping, trampling, slashing and clearing of vegetation and wildfires. Remaining populations in the Eltham area are disparate and occur in small reserves across the urban landscape.
