Emergency relocation of a Purple Copper Butterfly colony during roadworks: Successes and lessons learned

Abstract

A colony of the threatened Purple Copper Butterfly was found in bushland after construction for road works had commenced, triggering a rescue plan supported by the roads authority, ecologists and community volunteers. Although the efforts resulted in a high level of success and the development of new techniques for caterpillar relocation, the take-home message remains that protection is still better than cure . Raymond Mjadwesch is a consulting ecologist based in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales (He has worked extensively in survey, monitoring and management of the butterfly since 1997. Simon Nally managed the Purple Copper Butterfly recovery programme between 1998 and 2005 for the then New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. This article was prepared to communicate the methods and implications of this relocation project to others involved in the conservation and restoration of native species and habitats.

Roles of roadside vegetation in insect conservation in Australia

“…More rarely, and applicable only to the most significant insect species and severe circumstances, it may become necessary to take the extreme step of ‘salvaging’ insects from roadsides scheduled for loss and translocate them to carefully prepared receptor sites as close as possible to the original location. This extreme, and still novel, form of practical conservation was undertaken successfully for the Bathurst Copper butterfly Paralucia spinifera (Lycaenidae), following the unexpected discovery of a population on an advanced‐stage road realignment in NSW (Mjadwesch & Nally 2008).…”

A new species of Paralucia Waterhouse & Turner, 1905 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from the highlands of south‐eastern Australia

“…The broad flight season for both species lasts approximately 10 weeks, but adults of P. crosbyi possibly fly earlier in the season, from late July to early October, whereas adults of P. spinifera are recorded to fly mainly from late September to mid-November (Baker et al 1993). However, more recently, Braby (2000) and Mjadwesch and Nally (2008) have noted that adults of P. spinifera may emerge as early as early September or even mid-August. It is possible that the flight season of P. spinifera has shifted earlier since its initial discovery in the 1970s as a consequence of climate change; however, there is no historical baseline data for P. crosbyi to indicate if the adult phenology of this species has shifted.…”

Landscape Connectivity for Urban Insects

“…It proved feasible, within the period of work stoppage declared to assess options, to move larvae and their mutualistic ants to host plants ( Bursaria ) in the new offset site, and to transplant other individual plants supporting larvae. The exercise was successful (Mjadwesch and Nally 2008 ), but could have been undertaken only with the cooperation of the New South Wales Road and Traffi c Authority and help from the local community.…”