Paralucia pyrodiscus
| Paralucia pyrodiscus | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Paralucia |
| Species: | P. pyrodiscus |
| Binomial name | |
| Paralucia pyrodiscus (Rosenstock, 1885) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The fiery copper or dull copper (Paralucia pyrodiscus) is an endemic Australian butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. One of the two subspecies, P. p. lucida, is commonly known as the Eltham copper.[1]
The larvae feed on Bursaria spinosa and are associated with Notoncus ants.[1]
Distribution
It is found in eastern Australia from central Queensland through eastern New South Wales and into eastern Victoria. Outlying populations occur in north Queensland and central Victoria.
Taxonomy
The fiery copper was first described by Rudolph Rosenstock in 1885.[2]
Subspecies
The species is divided into the following two subspecies:
- Paralucia pyrodiscus pyrodiscus (found from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria)
- Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida Crosby, 1951 (the Eltham copper, found in central Victoria, especially Eltham)
The later was thought extinct in the 1950s, but was rediscovered in 1986. It is listed as "threatened" on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Populations have declined due to loss of habitat by urbanisation and loss of a natural fire regime. Two reserves in Eltham were partially burnt in 1998 in an attempt to improve habitat quality for the Eltham copper.[1]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paralucia pyrodiscus. |
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Wikispecies has information related to Paralucia pyrodiscus |
- 1 2 3 "Eltham Copper Butterfly". Museums Victoria. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ↑ Rosenstock, Rudolph (1885). "XL.—Notes on Australian Lepidoptera, with descriptions of new species". Journal of Natural History. Series 5. 16 (96): 421–443. doi:10.1080/00222938509459909.
Further reading
- Roitman M, Gardner MG, New TR, Nguyen TTT, Roycroft E, Sunnucks P, Yen AL, Harrisson KA (2017). "Assessing the scope for genetic rescue of an endangered butterfly: The case of the Eltham copper". Insect Conservation and Diversity. doi:10.1111/icad.12235.