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Common copper (Lycaena salustius) Tawharanui Reserve, New Zealand. 27 Dec 2016. Geotagged,Lycaena salustius,New Zealand,Summer Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Common copper (Lycaena salustius)

Tawharanui Reserve, New Zealand. 27 Dec 2016.

    comments (7)

  1. View Thibaud Aronson's profile
    Thibaud Aronson
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    One of New Zealand's only 26 species of butterflies! Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
    1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
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      Heh, that makes identifying them a lot easier. Why are there so few species? Mono culture in vegetation? Posted 8 years ago
      1. View Thibaud Aronson's profile
        Thibaud Aronson
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        Well they think it's likely some forest species went extinct due to massive forest clearance. But the fact is that New Zeland has a pretty depauperate fauna, having been so isolated for so long (80 million years). 2000 km separate Australia from NZ, that's pretty far to fly for a butterfly. Posted 8 years ago
        1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
          Ferdy Christant
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          2000km, did not realize it was so bloody far! I guess outsiders like me only look at Australia from a world map, from which NZ looks relatively close. 2000km is far from close.

          And thanks for the word depauperate, another new one learned.           Posted 8 years ago
          1. View Thibaud Aronson's profile
            Thibaud Aronson
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            Yup, it's really the other end of the world for us. Unfortunately, depauperate is a very common word in ecology these days... Posted 8 years ago
            1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
              Ferdy Christant
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              Wasn't familiar with the word, but unfortunately all too familiar with the phenomenon. We can barely sustain insects over here due to incredible intense land usage. We have some birds, but they don't even have room to land or breed anymore. The few pockets of planted forests are void, you're lucky to run into a deer or fox, but that's about it.

              Hence my late discovery and appreciation of wildlife, I simply had no exposure to it until later in life. Time to make up for lost time, I'd say.               Posted 8 years ago
              1. View Thibaud Aronson's profile
                Thibaud Aronson
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                Yeah I remember visiting Junner Koeland on a field trip when I was studying in Groningen. Pretty sad. But indeed, the tide is turning, and hopefully we won;t be too late in waking up. Posted 8 years ago

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The Coastal Copper

''Lycaena salustius'' is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in New Zealand. The wingspan is 24–35 mm. Adults are on wing from October to April. The larvae feed on ''Muehlenbeckia'' species.

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Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Thibaud Aronson
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By Thibaud Aronson

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Uploaded Feb 16, 2017. Captured Dec 27, 2016 16:20 in 1181 Takatu Rd, Tawharanui Peninsula 0986, New Zealand.
country flag of New Zealand Explore New Zealand 177 144 0
  • PENTAX K-3
  • f/7.1
  • 1/800s
  • ISO800
  • 300mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.