Look out for Lithgow’s loved up butterflies
Citizen scientists from across NSW’s Central Tablelands are urged to look out for the dazzling but endangered Purple Copper Butterfly that only lives in this part of the world.
These elusive butterflies emerge from September through to November each year and everyone from Bathurst to Lithgow to Oberon is invited to join the search during ‘Biodiversity Month’.
Known for its spectacular bright iridescent wings, the Purple Copper Butterfly is not as well known for its captivating mating habits.
Female butterflies are chased by eager males in spiralling courtship displays at this time of year. Males are also known to territorially chase each other and bask in the sun.
After mating the female lays eggs on her favourite plant, the native Blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa subsp. Lasiophylla), a spiky looking bush that grows over ant nests.
During the 14 to 17 days the caterpillars take to hatch, ‘attendant ants’ (Anonychomyrma itinerans) constantly patrol the Blackthorn. When the butterfly larvae emerge, ants are there to attend to them.
This year students as young as five are joining the ‘butterfly brigade’ of citizen scientists.
Meadow Flat Public School has recently planted 120 native Blackthorn seedlings in the school’s Purple Copper Butterfly Garden.
Now the race is on to spot the first ‘spiralling courtship’ of the season and hopefully these students will spy a butterfly this spring.
For tips on how to find the Purple Copper Butterfly and instructions on how to record your sightings visit NSW Environment.
This data will help ecologists get a better understanding of the species’ distribution and there is always the potential for new populations to be discovered.
The Purple Copper Butterfly was identified by scientists in 2021 as one of 26 Australian butterflies at greatest risk of extinction.
Quotes attributable to DCCEEW species expert, Alison Cowie:
“September is ‘Biodiversity Month’ so we really encourage the whole community to get out there and help us spot these Purple Copper Butterflies.
“We particularly love seeing school kids getting involved in conservation from an early age and helping us to protect this very unique endangered species.
"By collecting data and improving our understanding of this species, we can make better conservation decisions to give this beautiful multicoloured butterfly the best possible chance of survival.”
