Previously only known to occur in the Central Tablelands of NSW, populations of the rare Purple Copper Butterfly (Paralucia spinifera) have been found in Namadgi ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park again this year, following their discovery in the ACT in 2021.
Minister for the Environment Rebecca Vassarotti and Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman said the collaboration between ACT Government ecologists, community butterfly experts and volunteers has enabled a successful survey of the butterflies despite the wet conditions this year.
“Following their discovery in the ACT last year, we are very excited to announce that new populations of the endangered Purple Copper Butterfly have been found in two areas of Namadgi ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park,” Minister Vassarotti said.
“We know that the butterflies are very particular about elevation, being found only in areas between 850 and 1150 meters above sea level. They seem to favour post-fire habitats dominated by their primary food, Blackthorn plants. The butterflies then play an important role in fire recovery as a source of food themselves.
“However, the surveys conducted this year are also suggesting that non-fire-affected areas in the ACT may be important habitats for the species. These monitoring efforts, in conjunction with citizen science, are crucial to improving our understanding of the endangered species, including how it interacts with the other plants and animals in the ACT,” Minister Vassarotti said.
Minister Gentleman said the Namadgi ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park sightings are very special, as the butterfly populations are protected from many of the threats in other areas.
“The small iridescent butterflies, measuring only 20-30mm, are currently protected at Namadgi from the habitat loss or modification that results from land clearing, spraying, grazing and weed invasion,” Minister Gentleman said.
“Unfortunately, the recent wet weather limited access to many areas of the park, so we were really encouraged to find populations of the butterflies despite that challenge.
“We will be surveying additional areas of Namadgi ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park next year as part of our continued effort to map ACT populations and inform management practices. I’m hopeful that we will see more of these rare butterflies in the future,” Minister Gentleman said.
To help conservation efforts, the community is encouraged to upload possible sightings of the Purple Copper Butterfly to .
