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Bulloak Jewel Butterfly (Hypochrysops piceatus)

The Bulloak Jewel is a lycaenid butterfly restricted to the southern Darling Downs in south-eastern Queensland. Its habitat for works planning is mature Bulloak woodland, including mixed woodland where old-growth Bulloak trees remain.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Critically endangered.

Seasonal planning

The Bulloak Jewel flies from late August to early May.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Adult flight season: The Bulloak Jewel flies from late August to early May.

Identification: Appearance

Females have pale blue wings, while males have dull purple wings. Both sexes have grey-brown colouring with orange spots and bands.

Females have pale blue wings, while males have dull purple wings. Both sexes have grey-brown colouring with orange spots and bands.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species is known from two localities in south-eastern Queensland: Ellangowan Nature Refuge near Leyburn and Bendidee State Forest. Its former Mount Emlyn locality was lost following land clearing.

The species is known from two localities in south-eastern Queensland: Ellangowan Nature Refuge near Leyburn and Bendidee State Forest. Its former Mount Emlyn locality was lost following land clearing.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It inhabits old-growth Bulloak woodland, with mature Bulloak (*Allocasuarina luehmannii*) important to its habitat. It also occurs in mixed woodland with *Angophora leiocarpa*, eucalypts and *Callitris*; young Bulloaks and regrowth are not used.

It inhabits old-growth Bulloak woodland, with mature Bulloak (*Allocasuarina luehmannii*) important to its habitat. It also occurs in mixed woodland with *Angophora leiocarpa*, eucalypts and *Callitris*; young Bulloaks and regrowth are not used.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Caterpillars feed at night on soft Bulloak leaves, which attendant ants carry them to.

Caterpillars feed at night on soft Bulloak leaves, which attendant ants carry them to.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Caterpillars live beneath tree bark and are tended by ants, which protect them from predators in return for a sugary secretion. The ants carry the caterpillars to soft Bulloak leaves to feed at night.

Caterpillars live beneath tree bark and are tended by ants, which protect them from predators in return for a sugary secretion. The ants carry the caterpillars to soft Bulloak leaves to feed at night.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Caterpillars shelter beneath bark, and their attendant ants nest in mature Bulloak trees.

Caterpillars shelter beneath bark, and their attendant ants nest in mature Bulloak trees.

Threats: Threats

Habitat clearing and degradation have reduced and fragmented the remaining habitat. Fire, insect collecting, and activities such as tree felling and firewood collection are also identified as threats.

Habitat clearing and degradation have reduced and fragmented the remaining habitat. Fire, insect collecting, and activities such as tree felling and firewood collection are also identified as threats.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or damaging mature Bulloaks and associated woodland can remove habitat and the trees used by attendant ants. Road widening, tree felling, firewood collection, brush cutting and understorey clearance can further reduce habitat quality.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Woodland

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It inhabits old-growth Bulloak woodland, with mature Bulloak (*Allocasuarina luehmannii*) important to its habitat.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: QLD.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Casuarina or sheoak

It inhabits old-growth Bulloak woodland, with mature Bulloak (*Allocasuarina luehmannii*) important to its habitat.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: QLD.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources