About Lycaena salustius (Fabricius, 1793)
Lycaena salustius, commonly called the common copper or coastal copper, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. In the Māori language, it is known as pepe para riki; this same name is also shared by several other native New Zealand species in the genus Lycaena. The wingspan of adult Lycaena salustius ranges from 24 to 35 mm. Adult butterflies are active in flight from October to April. The species' larvae feed on plant species belonging to the genus Muehlenbeckia.
