NZ Coastal Copper Butterfly (Lycaena salustius)
- also known as Common Copper
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Hexapoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera (unranked): Rhopalocera Superfamily: Papilionoidea Family: Lycaenidae Subfamily: Lycaeninae Genus: Lycaena Species: L. salustius Binomial name: Lycaena salustius Common name: Common copper, Pepe Para Rki, Rauparaha's Copper, Coastal Copper |
The Coastal (Common) Copper (Lycaena salustius) is a small butterfly up to 33 mm of the Lycaenidae family.
It is found only in New Zealand. They are common in mid summer in warm open places and are attracted to blackberry flowers. Markings are very variable, especially the female. The green slug like caterpillars of this butterfly feed on the plant species: Polygonaceae, Muehlenbeckia and Rumex. REF: TERRAIN.NET.NZ Copper butterflies have evolved a strategy for coping with New Zealand’s unpredictable climate. In every brood some larvae grow steadily towards maturity, but others stop feeding after just one moult and enter a resting stage (diapause) for several months before continuing their growth some months later. This increases the chance of survival for some offspring if harsh conditions suddenly develop.
REF: TEARA |
The Coastal (Common) Copper is said to be a short-lived butterfly, only known to live 1 to 2 weeks. There are 3 main variations in New Zealand, although even these vary throughout their respective ranges.
"Despite so many variations the Coastal (Common) Copper has a constant double wing vein marking in the centre of the hindwing, unfortunately this sometimes requires catching the butterfly to get a close enough look to determine this, especially on the females, where the double wing vein marking is almost blurred into each other. Coastal Coppers have a greater tendency to travel than other coppers, which are not generally found more then 20-50 metres from the larval food plant.
All the coppers are suffering from Wasp predation, especially paper wasps, as they are a good source of protein for the wasp's developing larvae.
Attracting Coastal Coppers to your garden is fairly easy, just grow some Wire Vine - Pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia spp) and a plant a few nectar plants which have flowers at the end of stems as these are more favoured by the Copper Butterflies as landing sites."
See also - Glade Coppers and Rauparaha's Coppers
(Source: NZ Butterfly.info)
"Despite so many variations the Coastal (Common) Copper has a constant double wing vein marking in the centre of the hindwing, unfortunately this sometimes requires catching the butterfly to get a close enough look to determine this, especially on the females, where the double wing vein marking is almost blurred into each other. Coastal Coppers have a greater tendency to travel than other coppers, which are not generally found more then 20-50 metres from the larval food plant.
All the coppers are suffering from Wasp predation, especially paper wasps, as they are a good source of protein for the wasp's developing larvae.
Attracting Coastal Coppers to your garden is fairly easy, just grow some Wire Vine - Pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia spp) and a plant a few nectar plants which have flowers at the end of stems as these are more favoured by the Copper Butterflies as landing sites."
See also - Glade Coppers and Rauparaha's Coppers
(Source: NZ Butterfly.info)
In the wild, the New Zealand Coastal Copper Butterfly has only been recorded feeding on Pohuehue and Creeping Pohuehue (species of Muehlenbeckia).
The Coastal North Island Copper is extremely abundant and widespread in suitable habitat.
It is found on sand-dunes and rocky coasts wherever large patches of Muehlenbeckia grow. In Auckland they can be found at Muriwai, Waiheke Island, Bethells Beach, Bastion Point, Wenderholm and little Huia. They are abundant from late October through till April.
Coppers lay their eggs along the bottom edges of leaves. Their caterpillars are velvety green and move very slowly. Unlike most caterpillars, they pupate on the ground amongst dry leaf litter. They overwinter in a state of either diapause or quiescence which slows the insect’s metabolic rate, allowing it to survive the colder weather. In Coppers, this is thought to be in part a means of adaptation to the seasonal unavailability of their partially deciduous food plants.
Neither Rauparaha’s Copper nor the North Island Glade Copper typically travels more than 20-50 metres from their larval food plants, making it necessary to have plants that both the caterpillars and the butterflies eat near each other.
They usually fly close to the ground with a rapid, jerky flight pattern.
REF: NZ Forest and Bird
The Coastal North Island Copper is extremely abundant and widespread in suitable habitat.
It is found on sand-dunes and rocky coasts wherever large patches of Muehlenbeckia grow. In Auckland they can be found at Muriwai, Waiheke Island, Bethells Beach, Bastion Point, Wenderholm and little Huia. They are abundant from late October through till April.
Coppers lay their eggs along the bottom edges of leaves. Their caterpillars are velvety green and move very slowly. Unlike most caterpillars, they pupate on the ground amongst dry leaf litter. They overwinter in a state of either diapause or quiescence which slows the insect’s metabolic rate, allowing it to survive the colder weather. In Coppers, this is thought to be in part a means of adaptation to the seasonal unavailability of their partially deciduous food plants.
Neither Rauparaha’s Copper nor the North Island Glade Copper typically travels more than 20-50 metres from their larval food plants, making it necessary to have plants that both the caterpillars and the butterflies eat near each other.
They usually fly close to the ground with a rapid, jerky flight pattern.
REF: NZ Forest and Bird