Paralucia spinifera (Purple Copper)

Other Common Names

Bathurst Copper

Notes

One of the most threatened butterfly species in the country, this is protected by NSW and Federal legislation.

The first year I saw these butterflies (in 2004) it was towards the end of their flight season, which explains why the specimens I photographed were all rather worn. The butterflies are very unobtrusive – they seem to fly less than other coppers, and often settle low down in the grass. When they bask in the sun, however, they often seem to choose similar perches to those used by the other Paralucia species, such as at the end of grass stalks or on low shrubs.

I went back to Lithgow in September 2005,  during the main part of its flight season. The butterflies were easier to see when on the wing, especially the males because the purple colour was much more apparent on these fresh specimens than it had been on the worn examples I’d seen before.

Since then I’ve gone back to Lithgow once or twice just about every year to enjoy these little butterflies, though recently I’ve missed out thanks to bushfires and then to Covid-related travel restrictions.

In 2020 one of my photos of this species was used for an Australia Post stamp.

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