General Description
Above: dark brown margins with a bright orange-yellow central area. Below: brown with dark markings. Wingspan up to 3 cm.
Biology
These butterflies are present from December to February. Their caterpillars feed on Sweet Bursaria leaves at night and shelter in ant nests during the day. There are two subspecies, one of which (The Eltham Copper) is threatened due to its restricted range in Victoria.
Distribution
South-eastern mainland Australia.
Habitat
Bushland reserves where Sweet Bursaria plants grows.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Clubbed antennae, without eyespots, without tails on hindwing.
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Colours
Brown, Black, Orange
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Habitats
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Diet
Nectar
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Endemicity
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Endangered, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Plants
Sweet Bursaria
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Flight Start
October
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Flight End
April
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Doubleday, 1847)
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Common Name
Dull Copper
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Other Names
Fiery Copper , Eltham Copper
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Subclass
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Superorder
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Order
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Suborder
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Superfamily
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Family
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Subfamily
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Genus
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Species Name
pyrodiscus
