Paralucia aurifer
{{Short description|Species of butterfly}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Bright copper
| image = Paralucia aurifer.jpg
| taxon = Paralucia aurifer
| authority = Blanchard, 1848
}}
The bright copper (Paralucia aurifer) is a butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae.
Taxonomy
The bright copper was first described by Émile Blanchard in 1848.{{cite web |publisher= Markku Savela |url= http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/lycaenidae/theclinae/paralucia/ |title= Paralucia Waterhouse & Turner, 1905 |website= Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms |accessdate= 29 December 2016}}
Description
The adult bright copper has a wingspan of {{convert|25|mm}}.{{cite web|url=http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/melbournes-butterflies/bright-copper-butterfly/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729205846/http://museumvictoria.com.au/DiscoveryCentre/Infosheets/Melbournes-Butterflies/Bright-Copper-Butterfly/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2008|title=Bright Copper Butterfly Paralucia aurifer|publisher=Museum Victoria|accessdate=19 December 2009}}
The flight season is from December to January.{{cite web|url=http://morwellnp.pangaean.net/cgi-bin/show_species.cgi?find_this=Paralucia%20aurifer|title= Paralucia aurifer|publisher=Morwell National Park Online|accessdate=29 December 2009}}
The wings are dull brown on top with gold-orange triangles in the middle of each wing.
Distribution and habitat
It is found in eastern Australia including New South Wales, eastern Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.{{cite book|last=Kitching|first=Roger|title=Biology of Australian butterflies|editor=Roger Laurence Kitching|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|year=1999|isbn=9780643050273}}
Ecology
The bright copper and the ant species Anonychomyrma nitidiceps form a complex symbiotic relationship on Bursaria spinosa. Butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves, and the caterpillars feed on the leaves before pupating in the soil at the foot of the plant. The ants excavate chambers in the soil where the caterpillars sleep and later pupate, and accompany the caterpillars when the latter are feeding. They are thought to feed on the caterpillars' secretions.{{cite journal|url=http://www.sonoma.edu/users/C/cushman/pdf/cushman%20et%20al%2094b.pdf|title=Assessing Benefits to Both Participants in a Lycaenid-Ant Association|author1=Cushman, J. Hall |author2=Rashbrook, Vanessa K. |author3=Beattie, Andrew J. |year=1994|journal=Ecology| volume= 75|issue= 4|pages=1031–41|jstor=1939427|doi=10.2307/1939427|bibcode=1994Ecol...75.1031C |hdl=10211.1/1649|hdl-access=free}}
Gallery
File:Paralucia aurifer egg dorsal.jpg|Egg, dorsal view
File:Paralucia aurifer egg lateral.jpg|Egg, lateral view
File:Paralucia aurifer larva.jpg|Larva
File:Paralucia aurifer pupa.jpg|Pupa
File:Paralucia aurifer male mounted.jpg|Mounted male
File:Paralucia aurifer female mounted.jpg|Mounted female
File:Paralucia_aurifer_male.jpg|Male
File:Paralucia aurifer female.jpg|Female
See also
References
{{Commonscat|Paralucia aurifer|Paralucia aurifer}}
{{Wikispecies|Paralucia aurifer|Paralucia aurifer}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7135066}}