They are plentiful in Summer and can be found feeding on pōhuehue plants, throughout New Zealand.
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. (REF: Teara)
The common copper (Lycaena salustius) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidaefamily.
My photographs here were taken at Muriwai Beach, Auckland, New Zealand, adjacent to the Gannet Colony.