About Paralucia aurifer (Blanchard)
This species is commonly known as the bright copper, with the scientific name Paralucia aurifer (Blanchard). Adult bright coppers have a wingspan of 25 millimetres (0.98 in). Their flight season runs from December to January. The upper surface of their wings is dull brown, with gold-orange triangular markings in the middle of each wing. The bright copper is distributed in eastern Australia, including New South Wales, eastern Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. It forms a complex symbiotic relationship with the ant species Anonychomyrma nitidiceps, centered on the plant Bursaria spinosa. Bright copper butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of Bursaria spinosa leaves. After hatching, the caterpillars feed on the plant's leaves, before moving to pupate in the soil at the base of the plant. The ants excavate soil chambers that the caterpillars sleep in, and later use for pupation. The ants also accompany the caterpillars while they feed, and are thought to feed on secretions produced by the caterpillars.
