Male Eltham Copper Butterfly showing upper wing.
Photo: Hans van Gemert
Male Eltham Copper Butterfly, underside. Note the backward pointing tail on the hind wing.
Photo: Euan Moore
Female Eltham Copper Butterfly showing upper wing. Note the rounded rear edge of the hind wing.
Photo: Euan Moore
Female Eltham Copper Butterfly, underside.
Photo: Euan Moore
Scientific Name: Paralucia pyrodiscus subsp. lucida
Other Common Names: Fiery Copper, Dull Copper
Family of Butterflies: Lycaenidae (Blues and Coppers)
Wingspan: 26mm
Local Records: There are several small populations of this butterfly in the Castlemaine area that have
been found as part of extensive field searches. Most populations consist of a small number of
individuals closely associated with pockets of suitable habitat. These local populations have been
recorded at Castlemaine Botanic Gardens, Kalimna Park, Walmer SF, The Monk, Campells Creek and
Quartz Hill. ref: iNaturalist and Atlas of Living Australia.
| Tony Morton’s records of Eltham Copper from the local area (2000 to 2013) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Notes |
| 1-Jan-2013 | Kalimna ridge | a few |
| 30-Dec-2012 | Kalimna ridge | a few |
| 24-Dec-2011 | Kalimna Point | several ? Males |
| 10-Dec-2011 | Bot Gardens, off Froomes Road, C’maine | a few fresh males |
| 10-Dec-2011 | Kalimna Ridge & Point | a few fresh males |
| 15-Jan-2011 | Bot Gardens, off Froomes Road, C’maine | new area. Two seen. |
| 21-Dec-2009 | Kalimna Ridge & Point | 11.30 – 12.30 both sexes fresh |
| 17-Dec-2009 | Kalimna Ridge & Point | 3 – 4 p.m. both sexes fresh |
| 29-Nov-2009 | Kalimna Ridge & Point | 1 – 2 p.m. mainly male fresh 18º |
| 25-Nov-2008 | Kalimna, N. of Point, down hill, by seat | 1 fresh male, Bursaria flowering |
| 3-Dec-2006 | Kalimna ridge | also seen in Jan 07 |
| 30-Nov-2005 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | colony spread. Subsequent visits (to end Dec) show them on Kalimna Point and West down hill therefrom; South, East and North from Ridge up to No 5 hole of Golf course. Adults seen on most shrubs of flowering Bursaria in this area. None seen in Bot Gdns (three visits only), however. |
| early Jan 2005 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | |
| 21-Nov-2002 | Kalimna ridge | very fresh on ridge |
| 16–24 Jan 2002 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | several seen, inc. ovipositing female |
| 10-Jan-2002 | Kalimna Park, Castlemaine, Vic. | ridge on r. 50m past Coliban Water turnoff. Track leads off r. to ridge. Two areas of big and small Bursaria |
Distribution Across Victoria: Only known from a few locations across the state, including the populations in Castlemaine, 1-2 populations near Bendigo, one near Kiata, a small population at Wail and a fragmented population in Eltham. ref: iNaturalist and Atlas of Living Australia.
Larval Host Plants: Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa).
Patches of Sweet Bursaria like this are prime habitat for Eltham Copper Butterflies.
Photo: Hans van Gemert
Larval association with ants: In Castlemaine, larvae are always attended by small ants Notoncus capitatus.
Adult Flight Times in Victoria: Uncertain if there are one or two generations per year within the Castlemaine populations. Most Victorian records of adults in flight are during December and January, but they have been recorded from September to April.
At night the ants shepherd the caterpillars out onto Bursaria bushes to feed.
Photo: Hans van Gemert
Conservation Status:
- The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: Vulnerable
Other Notes: Anyone finding this butterfly should record the location and attempt to photograph it and load the photograph onto iNaturalist where the sighting may be verified and/or report the sighting to Victorian Biodiversity Atlas or to Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club who will ensure the sighting is properly recorded.
PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO CATCH THIS BUTTERFLY OR OTHERWISE CAUSE IT HARM
References and further reading:
Atlas of Living Australia – Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida, Eltham Copper Butterfly
iNaturalist – Paralucia pyrodiscus ssp lucida, Eltham Copper Butterfly
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