Bright Copper, upper surface.
Photo: Brian Bainbridge.
Bright Copper, lower surface.
Photo: Brian Bainbridge.
Scientific Name: Paralucia aurifer
Other Common Names: Dark Copper
Family of Butterflies: Lycaenidae (Blues and Coppers)
Wingspan: 24mm
Local Records: There are records in Atlas of Living Australia and iNaturalist from Hepburn Springs and Sailors Ck west of Hepburn. There are private records from Tipperary Springs since 2018 (Brian Bainbridge pers comm.).
Distribution outside our region: In Victoria iNaturalist records extend east from near Ballarat to the Snowy River. There are also records from the cooler forests of the far south-west, Otway Coast and Ranges and from south Gippsland. Atlas of Living Australia has records for most of Victoria south of the Great Dividing Range. Outside Victoria there are records of this species in the cooler forests from the Gold Coast hinterland south along the ranges to the Victorian border and on into eastern Tasmania.
Larval Host Plants: Sweet Bursaria, Bursaria spinosa.
Larval association with ants: Small black ants. Anonychomyrma sp.
Adult Flight Times in Victoria: August to April with peak activity from November to January.
Conservation Status:
- The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: No Conservation Significance
Other Notes: This species is very similar to the Eltham Copper Butterfly however it is generally found in moister habitats than the Eltham Copper. The black edge to the hind wings is wider than that of the Eltham Copper and there is often a row of white dots along the margin of the hind wing. Other differences include the species of ant involved in the symbiotic relationship.
Males may form leks where several males establish a territory away from the main breeding areas and
compete for females.
References:
Atlas of Living Australia – Paralucia aurifer, Bright Copper.
iNaturalist Australia – Paralucia aurifer, Bright Copper.
Braby, Michael F., Second edition 2016. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing.
Field, Ross P., 2013. Butterflies: Identification and Life History. Museum Victoria.