Case Study: Eltham Copper Butterfly
In an effort to aid a local City Council (Banyule) in conserving the Copper Butterfly, in the particular region of Greenhills and the Andrew Yandell Reserve, in Melbourne Victoria, and more broadly educate and communicate the butterflies significance to the local community. An environmental communications campaign, in conjunction with the Banyule City Council, is proposed.
The Communications campaign would be aimed at the local and broader community to build a stronger awareness of the Copper Butterfly’s existence and habitat. It would aid the community in understanding what a significant role they can play in sustaining biodiversity and conserving the local environment.
ISSUE
The Eltham copper butterfly Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida (family Lycaenidae) is a highly threatened subspecies, listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, that occurs in small, geographically disjunct populations across Victoria, Australia.The Eltham copper butterfly was thought to have become extinct ~1950, driven by loss of habitat through agricultural expansion and urbanization, but was rediscovered in the 1980s. Small populations of Eltham copper butterflies survive around Horsham, Castlemaine, Bendigo, Eltham and Greensborough.
ECOLOGY and HABITAT
The Eltham Copper Butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida) is only found in Victoria. It is one of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies or (blues) which have highly specialised ecological requirements. It is a close relative of the Dull Copper Paralucia pyrodiscus (Rosenstock 1885), and was recognised as a distinct sub-species by Crosby (1951). It was considered to have been extinct since the 1950’s until rediscovered at Eltham in 1986. The Eltham Copper is distinguished by the sharply defined, distinctively shaped patch of bright copper scales on the male hind wing.
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN
In an effort to aid a local City Council (Banyule) in conserving the Copper Butterfly, in the particular region of Greenhills and the Andrew Yandell Reserve, in Melbourne Victoria, and more broadly educate and communicate the butterflies significance to the local community. An environmental communications campaign, in conjunction with the Banyule City Council, is proposed.
The Communications campaign would be aimed at the local and broader community to build a stronger awareness of the Copper Butterfly’s existence and habitat. It would aid the community in understanding what a significant role they can play in sustaining biodiversity and conserving the local environment.
ISSUE
The Eltham copper butterfly Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida (family Lycaenidae) is a highly threatened subspecies, listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, that occurs in small, geographically disjunct populations across Victoria, Australia.The Eltham copper butterfly was thought to have become extinct ~1950, driven by loss of habitat through agricultural expansion and urbanization, but was rediscovered in the 1980s. Small populations of Eltham copper butterflies survive around Horsham, Castlemaine, Bendigo, Eltham and Greensborough.
ECOLOGY and HABITAT
The Eltham Copper Butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida) is only found in Victoria. It is one of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies or (blues) which have highly specialised ecological requirements. It is a close relative of the Dull Copper Paralucia pyrodiscus (Rosenstock 1885), and was recognised as a distinct sub-species by Crosby (1951). It was considered to have been extinct since the 1950’s until rediscovered at Eltham in 1986. The Eltham Copper is distinguished by the sharply defined, distinctively shaped patch of bright copper scales on the male hind wing.
The Eltham Copper Butterfly is restricted to central and western Victoria where it is found in dry open woodlands. Its occurrence is dependent upon an obligatory association between a dwarfed form of the Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa and colonies of Notoncus sp. of ants.
The Eltham Copper Butterfly is never found in areas where Notoncus ant colonies are absent.
Andrew Yandell Habitat Reserve is environmentally significant at a state level, being one of the very few breeding grounds of the threatened Eltham Copper Butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida). The butterfly has a unique symbiotic relationship with a species of Notoncus ant and the Sweet Bursaria plant (Bursaria spinosa), both indigenous to the area.
Adult butterflies lay their eggs on the stems of Sweet Bursaria shrubs and when the eggs hatch, the ants protect the caterpillars from predators, allowing them to feed on the Sweet Bursaria leaves at night. In return, caterpillars allow the ants to feed on the sugar secretions from their bodies. The Eltham Copper Butterflies emerge during summer.
CONSERVATION and MANAGEMENT
Management and monitoring is focused on 12 populations in three geographic areas.
Eltham / Greensborough area
The population is mainly confined to 7 reserves managed by Parks Victoria and Local Government in the Eltham and Greensborough area, activities include:
- detailed population monitoring;
- maintain open habitat through vegetation management and possibly timed ecological burning;
- control Cape Broom, Boneseed and assorted grass weed species.
Kiata / Salisbury Bushland Reserve area
Bendigo / Castlemaine area
In 2011 habitat mapping was carried out over 3,500 ha of reserve. Six new sites were discovered and a significant improvement in the understanding of habitat and prediction of habitat.
Mapping in the Bendigo / Castlemaine Area has revealed sites ranged from 1.2 km to 7 km apart, sometimes disconnected by roads and areas of cleared land. There is a need to develop improved interconnectivity between populations.
PROPOSITION
Develop a community campaign to more broadly educate and communicate biodiversity, the Eltham Copper butterfly and its habitats significance to the local community.
Via: Botanically Designed Environmental communications campaign.
Botanical illustration and communication strategies will be at the core of this project.
