Paralucia aurifer

The bright copper (Paralucia aurifer) is a butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae.

Bright copper
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Paralucia
Species:
P. aurifer
Binomial name
Paralucia aurifer
Blanchard, 1848

Taxonomy

The bright copper was first described by Émile Blanchard in 1848.[1]

Description

The adult bright copper has a wingspan of 25 millimetres (0.98 in).[2]

The flight season is from December to January.[3]

The wings are dull brown on top with gold-orange triangles in the middle of each wing.[3]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in eastern Australia including New South Wales, eastern Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.[4]

Ecology

The bright copper and the ant species Anonychomyrma nitidiceps form a complex symbiotic relationship on Bursaria spinosa. Butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves, and the caterpillars feed on the leaves before pupating in the soil at the foot of the plant. The ants excavate chambers in the soil where the caterpillars sleep and later pupate, and accompany the caterpillars when the latter are feeding. They are thought to feed on the caterpillars' secretions.[5]

  • Egg, dorsal view
  • Egg, lateral view
  • Larva
  • Pupa
  • Mounted male
  • Mounted female
  • Male
  • Female

See also

References
  1. "Paralucia Waterhouse & Turner, 1905". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Markku Savela. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  2. "Bright Copper Butterfly Paralucia aurifer". Museum Victoria. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  3. "Paralucia aurifer". Morwell National Park Online. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  4. Kitching, Roger (1999). Roger Laurence Kitching (ed.). Biology of Australian butterflies. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9780643050273.
  5. Cushman, J. Hall; Rashbrook, Vanessa K.; Beattie, Andrew J. (1994). "Assessing Benefits to Both Participants in a Lycaenid-Ant Association" (PDF). Ecology. 75 (4): 1031–41. doi:10.2307/1939427. JSTOR 1939427.
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