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Eltham Copper Butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida)

The Eltham Copper Butterfly is a small butterfly endemic to Victoria, where it occurs in several separated regions. It depends on dry, open woodland with Sweet Bursaria and Notoncus ants, so works affecting these habitat features may affect the species.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

Adults are seen from November to April and emerge from October to March, with emergence peaking from November to January.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Adult flight season: Adults are seen from November to April and emerge from October to March, with emergence peaking from November to January.

Identification: Appearance

This small butterfly has bright copper or orange-yellow colouring on the upper wings, with a distinctive triangular marking; the undersides are pale brown. The upper-wing colour is most visible during the adult flight season.

This small butterfly has bright copper or orange-yellow colouring on the upper wings, with a distinctive triangular marking; the undersides are pale brown. The upper-wing colour is most visible during the adult flight season.

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 butterfly is known only from Victoria, in the Eltham-Greensborough area, the Kiata-Salisbury area of the Wimmera, and the Bendigo-Castlemaine region. Populations occur at scattered sites within these regions.

The butterfly is known only from Victoria, in the Eltham-Greensborough area, the Kiata-Salisbury area of the Wimmera, and the Bendigo-Castlemaine region. Populations occur at scattered sites within these regions.

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 occurs in dry, open woodland and forest, often on elevated, well-drained ground with open patches and flight paths. Suitable habitat includes Sweet Bursaria plants and Notoncus ant colonies; vegetation structure and local conditions vary between regions.

It occurs in dry, open woodland and forest, often on elevated, well-drained ground with open patches and flight paths. Suitable habitat includes Sweet Bursaria plants and Notoncus ant colonies; vegetation structure and local conditions vary between regions.

Foraging habitat: Diet

The larvae feed on Sweet Bursaria leaves. Adults feed on flower nectar, especially from Sweet Bursaria.

The larvae feed on Sweet Bursaria leaves. Adults feed on flower nectar, especially from Sweet Bursaria.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Adults lay eggs on or near the roots and stems of Sweet Bursaria plants associated with Notoncus ants. The ants attend the larvae, which feed on the plant, and the larvae pupate in or near the ant nest.

Adults lay eggs on or near the roots and stems of Sweet Bursaria plants associated with Notoncus ants. The ants attend the larvae, which feed on the plant, and the larvae pupate in or near the ant nest.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Notoncus ants shelter the caterpillars in their nest, protecting them from sunlight, heavy rain and strong wind. The pupa lives in or close to the nest.

Notoncus ants shelter the caterpillars in their nest, protecting them from sunlight, heavy rain and strong wind. The pupa lives in or close to the nest.

Threats: Threats

Land clearing for urbanisation and farming has removed suitable habitat. Habitat is also reported to be threatened by urbanisation, weeds, rabbits, changed fire regimes and grazing.

Land clearing for urbanisation and farming has removed suitable habitat. Habitat is also reported to be threatened by urbanisation, weeds, rabbits, changed fire regimes and grazing.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or construction within dry woodland habitat may remove or affect areas used by the butterfly, particularly where Sweet Bursaria and Notoncus ants occur. Land clearing and urbanisation have already removed areas of suitable habitat.

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 occurs in dry, open woodland and forest, often on elevated, well-drained ground with open patches and flight paths.

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: VIC.

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