Further notes on the butterfly fauna of La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent nature conservation reserves, Victoria, and its conservation significance

2012·3.6 MB·English

by  Michael F Braby

Research Reports
Further notes on the butterfly fauna ofLa Trobe
Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent nature conservation
reserves, Victoria, and its conservation significance
Michael F Braby
BiodiversityConservationDivision,DepartmentofNaturalResources,Environment,theArtsandSport,POBox496,
Palmerston,NT0831,andResearchSchoolofBiology,TheAustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra,ACT0200
Abstract
Arevised list ofthebutterfliesofthe LaTrobeWildlife Sanctuaryandadjacentnatureconservationreserves
nearMelbourne is presented based on intermittentobservations and collectionsbetween 1989 and 2011. A
totalof31 species is recorded, ofwhich 22 (71%) areconsideredtoberesident. Oftheresidentspecies, nine
(41%) specialiseaslarvaeon Poaceae. Populationsofthree residentspecies thatwerepreviouslyabsenthave
becomeestablishedviadifferentpathways: Trapezitessymmomuswastranslocateddeliberatelyin 1988, Trape-
zitesphigalioidesappearsto havebeenintroducedunintentionallyin thelate 1990s,while Toxidiadoubledayi
invadedtheareanaturallyduringaperiodofrangeexpansionduringthe 1990s.Theintroductionofthehes-
periid Trapezitessymmomusinvolved several keyelements, namelycommunityeducation in relation to the
principles ofbutterflyconservation, involvement oflocal science students and park rangers, increasing the
extentandintegrityofthebutterflies’habitatthroughcollectionandpropagationofthelarvalfoodplant,trans-
locationofthelarvalstageofthebutterfly,andlong-termmonitoringofthespeciesover20+years.Ecological
restoration and conservation management ofthe reserves estate overthe pasttwo decades appears to have
benefited thegrass- and Lomandra-feeding specialists and otherbutterflies associatedwith the understorey
groundlayer.ThesuccessoftheT.symmomusintroductionsuggeststhatothermorethreatenedspeciesinthe
Melbourneareaassociatedwithmonocotfoodplantscouldpotentiallybeestablishedinconservationreserves
throughsuchtranslocationprograms. (TheVictorianNaturalist129(3),2012,86-97)
Keywords: butterfly translocation, conservation management, ecological restoration, urban butterfly
conservation
Introduction
Butterflies are widely recognised as an impor- species near Melbourne such as the Eltham
tant flagship group for promoting the wider copperParaluciapyrodiscusandAltonaskipper
concerns and conservation needs of inverte- Hesperillaflavescens have become pivotal am-
brates,andinrecentyearsconsiderationofsev- bassadors for insect conservation through the
eral speciesin Australia has been instrumental protection and management ofurban popula-
in formulating reserve design for conservation tions in dedicated conservation reserves (Field
planning, particularly in semi-natural, urban 1995; New and Sands 2002; New et al. 2007;
landscapes (Sands and New 2002; New and Canzano et al. 2007; Relf and New 2009; Yen
Sands2002). About75speciesofbutterfliesoc- 2011). The perpetuity of this remnant urban
cur in the greater Melbourne region, and they butterfly fauna hinges verymuch on measures
are one ofthe best known groups ofinsects in tofostersitesecurityandhabitatprotection,to-
terms of biological and distributional knowl- getherwithongoingconservationmanagement
edge (Yen2011).Althoughasubstantialvariety to mitigatethreatsandmaintainor restorenat-
ofbutterflies still existsin thenetworkofsmall uralecologicalprocesses.
reserves throughout the urban matrix ofMel- La Trobe University lies approximately 13
bourne (New and Sands 2002), there is ample km north-east of Melbourne, and its urban
evidence to indicate that several species have butterfly fauna was documented in a previous
declined in extent as a resultofongoing urban report (Braby 1989) in which 28 species were
expansion and the concomitant loss or modi- listed. The species were recorded during the
fication ofcritical habitats (Braby 1989, 1991; 1980smainlyfromthreeconservationreserves,
Braby et al. 1992; Faithfull 1992; Field 1995; La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary, Gresswell Forest
Sands and New 2002; Yen 2011). Threatened Nature Conservation Reserve, and Gresswell
86 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
Hill Nature Conservation Reserve, which at and Gresswell Forest NCR. New records based
that time was managed by Mont Park Mental on these observations are detailed below, to-
HealthAuthority.Overall,thebutterflyfaunaof gether with a summary of the composition
the reserves estate managed by La Trobe Uni- and occurrence ofeach species in these three
versity was considered to have high conserva- reserves. Ofparticularinterestisthesuccessful
tion significance because ofits close proximity translocation of a local species, the Splendid
to Melbourne and inclusion of a prominent Ochre Trapezites symmomus, that was previ-
hilltop. The reserves preserve samples ofrem- ously absent from the reserves. This example
nant indigenous river-red gum woodland and representsoneofveryfewattemptsofintensive
grassland (which have now been substantially habitatrestorationtargetedforaparticularspe-
enhancedthroughactiveconservationmanage- ciesofinvertebrate (Yen 2011).
ment) that support a number oflocalised and
Observations
ecologically specialised species of butterflies. SplendidOchreTrapezitessymmomus
Thesevegetationtypeshavelargelydisappeared
This univoltine species was previously absent
in the lower Yarra Valley and adjacent basalt
from La Trobe University, but in late 1988 it
plains of Melbourne due to extensive urbani-
wasdeliberatelyintroducedintoGresswell For-
sation, and it was considered that the reserves estNCR(Braby 1991). Priorto 1988, thelarval
support significant locallyadapted populations food plant, Spiny-headed Mat-rush Lomandra
ofbutterflies that maybe poorlyrepresented in longifolia (Fig. 1), occurred naturally in two
conservation reserves elsewhere in the inner
small remnant patches within the reserve but
north-eastern region ofMelbourne. Gresswell
Hill NCR comprises a prominent hilltop with itdidnotsupportacolonyofthebutterfly,pos-
extensive natural vegetation that is used as a
landmark for mate-location by many butter-
flies, including non-residentspecies which en-
tertheareafromnearbybushlandareasbeyond
the sea ofresidential housesthatsurroundthe
reserves.
Until relatively recently, the reserve estate
managed by La Trobe University comprised
four discrete areas that totalled around 105
ha: La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary (c. 29 ha),
NCR
Gresswell Hill (c. 9 ha), Gresswell For-
est NCR (c. 50 ha, including perimeterbuffer)
and Gresswell Habitat Link NCR (c. 17 ha).
The last-mentioned area comprises a broad
corridor ofland thatconnectsthe western end
of Gresswell Forest NCR with the northern
boundary ofLa Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary and
lies between Gresswell Hill NCR and Strathal-
lan Golf Course; it was established in 1993
and then addedto La Trobe Universityreserve
management estate in 1996. However, in 2011
Gresswell HillNCR,GresswellForestNCRand
Gresswell Habitat Link NCR were all excised
from management by La Trobe University and Fig. 1. Indigenous remnantpatchofLomandra longi-
transferredto theDepartment ofSustainability folia (shownbottomleft),thelarvalfoodplantofTra-
andEnvironment. pezites symmomus, in Gresswell Forest Conservation
Since 1989 I have made intermittent obser- NdaotmuirneatReedsegrrvaessgyrwoowoidnlganidn.EPuhcoatloy:pt2usOcctaombaelrdu2l0e1n1s.is
vations and collections of butterflies from La
Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary, Gresswell Hill NCR
Vol 129 (3) 2012 87
Research Reports
Fig. 2. Release site (‘western
patch’) for the founding popula-
tion of Trapezites symmomus in
Gresswell Forest Conservation
Nature Reserve. The site was
augmented with a substantial
numberoftussocksofLomandra
longifolia propagated in the La
Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary’s nurs-
eryin 1988-90.Thesitewasburnt
to its entirety in March 2003;
this figure shows theplants fully
regenerated two years after that
control burn. Photo: 28 February
2005.
siblybecause thereweretoo fewplants to sup- with the assistance ofsecondary environmen-
port a viable population. One patch, hereafter tal science students in 1988 (Fig. 3). Data was
referred to as the western patch’ (37.71222°S, notkeptonthenumberofplantspropagatedor
145.07118°E; WGS84), occurred approxi- theirrateofsurvival in situ,butitwasestimat-
mately in the centre ofGresswell Forest NCR ed that approximately 50-100 seedlings were
to the west ofSalt Creek(near the intersection planted. The source areas for the translocation
ofCentre andAntechinusTracks). The second comprised eight sites in the lower Yarra valley
patch,hereafterreferredtoasthe easternpatch’ within 25 km ofLa Trobe University, and in-
(37.71406°S, 145.07185°E; WGS84), occurred cludedBundoora-Plenty,SmithsGully,Eltham,
totheeastofSaltCreek200 mSSEofthe‘west- Warrandyte, Mitcham, Burwood and Kew in
ernpatch’. order to maximise diversity of the local gene
The introduction was achieved firstly by in- pool (Table 1). In total, 172 mid to late instar
creasing the extent and integrity of the but- larvae were collected and introduced during
terflies’ habitat ofthe ‘western patch’ through October-December 1988, with up to sixlarvae
collection and propagation oflocal seed ofthe inside theirtubular shelters placed on individ-
larvalfoodplant(Fig.2) andplantingtheseed- ualtussocksofthefoodplant.
lings in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and secondly by Following translocation, sites were moni-
establishing a founding population ofthe but- tored intermittently for the presence/absence
terfly through translocation ofthe larval stage ofthe species between 1989 and 2011 in order
Table1.SourcelocalitiesfromwhichlarvaeofTrapezitessymmomuswerecollectedfromthelowerYarravalley
andintroducedintoGresswellForestNatureConservationReserve.
Location Numberoflarvae Date
YarraRiver,NormansReserve,WarrandyteNorth 34 02Oct 1988
DiamondCreek,ElthamNorthReserve,ElthamNorth 21 02Oct1988
DiamondCreek,ElthamLowerPark,Eltham 44 10Nov1988
OldCaledoniaGully, PeterFrankeReserve,SmithsGully 17 10Nov 1988
MullumMullumCreek,YarranDheran,Mitcham 28 10Nov1988
PlentyRiverGorge,Bundoora-Plenty 13 12Nov1988
YarraRiver,StudleyPark,Kew 10 28Dec 1988
WattlePark,Burwood 5 29Dec 1988
Total 172
88 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
thethe
Laurie of
with
ranger
involvedtranslocation
with
right),
together
to
experimental
left
School),
row,
the
High(frontin
used
Paras
site
Greenwood
1988.
George
source
a
(formerlyranger November
andMitcham,10
College
Forbes Photo:
Dheran,
Gary
Secondary Reserve.
Yarran
Braby,
fromNature
Bundoora
Michael
symmomus
fromand Conservation
left)
students
fromTrapezites
Forest
sciencethirdof
Gresswell
row,larvae
Secondary(backof
into
3.
Whelancollectionspecies
Fig.
Voll29 (3) 2012 89
Research Reports
to determine the relative success or failure of BrightShield-skipperSignetaflammeata
theintroduction (Table2).Within thefirsttwo This species was previouslyconsidered to be a
yearsoftheintroduction,larvaewerepresentat vagrant to La Trobe University, its occurrence
both the foundersite (‘western patch’) and the basedon onlytwomales atGresswellHillNCR
second remnant indigenous patch of Loman- in Februaryand March 1988 (Braby 1989). On
dra longifolia (‘eastern patch’), indicating that 20 January 1993, several males (c. 5) were ob-
not only had the species survived two seasons served hilltopping at the summit ofGresswell
(generations), but had expanded to colonise Hill NCR during late afternoon; all individu-
new previously unoccupied habitat. In 1991 als were either‘dog-fighting’ or perched on the
and 1994,itwasfoundbreedingonplantedtus- outer foliage of a Golden Wattle Acacia pyc-
m
socks ofthe food plant in the nearby La Trobe nanthatree 6-7 abovegroundlevel. Theoc-
WildlifeSanctuary,indicatingthatwithinthree currence ofthis species throughout the broad
yearsofintroductionthebutterflyhadcolonised flight period during late summer (Jan-Mar)
re-created habitat 2kmSWofthefoundersite. and presence ofmultiple hilltopping individu-
In March 2003, the food plants at the ‘western alsinmid-Januarysuggests thespecies isprob-
patch’ were burnt in their entirety by fire dur- ablyresidentinthearea.
ing a control burn for weed management (G.
Paras pers. comm. 2003). A month later, the LilacGrass-skipperToxidiadoubledayl
This species was not previously recorded from
food plants were starting to regenerate but no
La Trobe University during earlier field stud-
eo‘awnrelsaytfesertwnagiepnsadtocifhg’tehnteohuabstuttetuessrcfsalopycekwdserf5ie0rep.mreTnsweoonrtt,sheeoaxfscoetnphste iseesa.rOchnf2o5rDtheecespmebceiers1i9n94G,re1smsawedlelaFnoreexsttenNsCivRe
later, adults were recorded at both the ‘west- butfailedtodetectit,despitethefactthatadults
ern’ and ‘eastern’ patches in Gresswell Forest were abundant further east at Eltham at the
NCR, indicating that the species had survived same time. However, several years later, on 29
the control burn and, most likely, had recolo- November 2001, I recorded the species in the
nsuisseadttGhrees‘swweesltlerFnorpeasttchN’.CDRur(i2nOgctmoybelras2t0c1e1n)-, aLtatThreobneurWsielrdyl)i,featSaGnrcetsusawreyll(1FomraelsetcNolCleRcte(d1
male collected from near southern entrance),
precisely23 years afterthe first batch oflarvae and at Gresswell Hill NCR (2 males collected)
were introduced into the reserve (2 October
whereadultswereparticularlyabundant, espe-
1988), large numbers oflate instarlarvae were
cially on the eastern slope around patches of
detectedatthe‘westernpatch’ (Table2).Larvae
introduced blackberry, but also at the summit.
wsoeurtehearlsnobroeucnodradreydoaflGornegssSwaelltlCFroereekstnNeCarRtohne On blackberry, males showed a distinct ten-
dencytoperch onthelargewhiteflowerpetals
food plantsthathad spreadvianatural recruit-
ment downstream from the ‘eastern patch’. In and less frequently on the green leaves ofthis
noxiousweed.
addition to the observations reported in Table
2, G Paras (pers. comm. 2011) has noted that Greenish Grass-dartOcybadisteswalkeri
adults of the butterfly have been observed in A final instar larvawas collected on ablade of
mostyearsatGresswellForestNCR,from 1989 alargetussockofLomandra longifoliaatGress-
to thepresenttime. well Forest NCR on 2 October 2011; the larva
MontaneOchreTrapezitesphigalioides pupated afewdays laterand a femaleemerged
on 16 October2011.ClumpsofEhrhartaerecta
This species was not previously recorded from
grew amongst the L. longifolia and this intro-
oLOfanwTh2r9iocbNheovUtnweiomvbewreesrriet2y0c0do1lu,lrei1cntrgeedce,aorhrlidileelrdtoftipheprliednegstmuaatdlieteshs,e. dpluacnet;dtghratasiss,mtaheylahravvaembaeyenhavtheelelfatrtvhael gfroaosds
summit ofGresswell Hill NCR. All individuals to pupate amongst the broad leaves of the L.
longifoliatussock.
perched on lowgrass in a small open (cleared)
sunnyarea.
90 TheVictorianNaturalist
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Research Reports
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Vol 129 (3) 2012 91
Research Reports
ImperialJezebelDeliasharpalyce 1989). In 1986,themaximum numberofadults
This species was previously recorded infre- recorded in this reserve during counts over a 2
quently (at Gresswell Hill NCR and university km transect conducted throughout the entire
campus) and it was suggested to be avisitorto flightseasonwasonlysix(BrabyandNew1989).
La Trobe University (Braby 1989). However, However,on 28 February2005adultswerenot-
fouremptypupalshellsonaremnantlarvalweb ed to be particularly abundant (>30 observed
were recorded on CreepingMistletoeMuelleri- over 1 h observation period) over a wide area
na eucalyptoides parasitising a River Red Gum along Salt Creek in the southern halfofGress-
Eucalyptus camaldulensishosttree atGresswell well ForestNCR. Ialsorecordedtwomalesina
Forest NCRon 15 December 1989. On 10 July densegrassyshadedareaontheupperslopesof
1990, several empty pupal shells ofD. harpal- Gresswell HillNCRon 20January 1993.
ycewerelocatedonaclump ofM. eucalyptoides
MarbledXenicaGeitoneuraklugii
parasitising E. camaldulensis growing near the
carparkentrance (GreenwoodDrive)ofGress- Thisspecieswaspreviouslyrecordedfromearly
well ForestNCR. D Britton (pers. comm.) also D(BercaebmybaenrdtNoemiwd1A9p8r9i)l.aOtnGr2es9sNweolvleFmobreesrt2N0C01R,
reared adults from the latter location in late
1989. These observations suggest that a breed- I recorded two males hilltopping at Gresswell
Hill NCR, which represents an early season
ingpopulation ofthespeciesis established and
record. Kearneyetal. (2010) found in males of
thatthespeciesis residentinthearea.
thesatyrineHeteronympha meropeasignificant
Lesser WandererDanauspetilia correlation between adult emergence and year,
This migratory species was previously known which was correlated with global temperature
onlyfromsinglesightingsonLaTrobeWildlife rise, in the Melbourne area during the twenti-
Sanctuary and nearby areas (Braby 1989). On ethcentury.WhethermalesofG. klugiiarealso
3 January 1993, an individual was observed at now emerging earlier remains an open ques-
1530 h in a grassy area near the northern en- tion,butislikelygiventhedecadeofwarm,dry
tranceofGresswell ForestNCR. conditions experiencedduringthe2000s.
ShoulderedBrownHeteronymphapenelope DarkPurpleAzureOgyrisabrota
This species was previously considered to be This species was previously recorded breeding
a vagrant to La Trobe University, with only at Gresswell Hill NCR and university campus
one male recorded at Gresswell Hill NCR on (Braby 1989). On 15 December 1989, numer-
19 March 1988 (Braby 1989). However, on 14 ous hatched eggs, eight early instarlarvae, and
March 1993 a female was observed along the twoemptypupalshellswererecordedatGress-
central track of Gresswell Forest NCR. Sub- well Forest NCR, the early stages being found
sequently, adults ofboth sexes were found to under loose bark ofa sapling ofthe host tree
be common in the reserve on 2 March 2004, Eucalyptus camaldulensis which supported a
although they were restricted to better qual- clump ofthe larval food plant Muellerina eu-
itygrassywoodland. The following season, the calyptoides. The following season, numerous
specieswasnotedtobeveryabundantatGress- empty egg shells and three empty pupal shells
well Forest NCR on 28 February 2005, with were recorded on thesame mistletoe clump on
many freshly emerged adults observed along 10July1990.Onthisoccasiontheeggshadbeen
andnearthecentralcreeksystem.Ofparticular deposited mostlyontheadventitious rootsand
note was the capture, on 2 March 2004, ofan branches of the mistletoe, but one was found
albinicmaleinwhichtheorangegroundcolour onaleafandotherswere depositedon thehost
was replacedwithpalecreamish-brown. tree closetothefoodplant.
RingedXenicaGeitoneuraacantha Two-spottedLine-blueNacadubabiocellata
Only small numbers ofthis species were pre- This species was found breeding at Gresswell
viously recorded from La Trobe University, Hill NCR where two late instar larvae were
mostlyfromGresswellForestNCRwhereitwas collected from the flower buds of Lightwood
verylocalisedalongSalt Creek(BrabyandNew Acaciaimplexaon20January 1993;bothlarvae
provedtobeparasitised(Braby 1998).
92 TheVictorianNaturalist
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Saltbush BlueTheclinesthesserpentatus mentas a resultofongoinghabitat restoration,
Veryfew adults ofthis species were previously includingweedcontrolandjudiciousfireman-
recorded from La Trobe University, with only agement(GParaspers.comm.2011).The east-
two records in March and April (Braby 1989). ernpatch’, inparticular,isnowmorethantwice
On 11 May2007, several adults (c. 5) wereob- its area ofoccupancycompared with its extent
served around midday during unseasonably in the 1980s, and propagules have also started
warm and sunny conditions in the nursery of tocoloniseareasfurtherdownstreamalongSalt
La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary; several adults Creek. Thus, there is the potential for the two
were freshly emerged and frequently alighted breedinghabitatpatchestoexpandfurtherand
on potted plants, suggesting the species was eventuallyconnectwithone another.
breeding locally, most likely on chenopods be- Trapezitesphigalioides is a distinctive and con-
ingpropagated inthenursery. spicuous skipper, and it is unlikely that it was
Discussion previouslyoverlookedbut,equally,itisunlikely
The new observations reported here, together thatithadnaturallycolonisedtheareagivenits
specialised habitat requirements with larvae
wliistthofexbiustttienrgfldiaetsar(eBcroarbdyed19f8o9r),LabrTirnogbteheWitoltda-l fdoerpmeinsdaenndtiotsnreWsattrtilcetedMadtis-trruisbhutLioonmianntdhreaMfeilli--
ltiifoenSraenscetruveasrytoa3n1dsapdejcaicesen(tTanbalteur3)e.cTohnesetrhvrae-e bourne area. It is possible that the species was
accidentally introduced to the conservation
additional species, all hesperiids, appear to be reserves. Former ranger B. Smith (pers. comm.
resident, but populations ofeach have become
2003) noted that a number ofthe larval food
established via different pathways. Trapezites
plants ofthe butterfly were translocated from
symmomus was introduced deliberately in
Eltham(fromsitestobedevelopedforhousing,
1988, whereas Trapezites phigalioid.es appears
includingProgressRoad)totheLaTrobeWild-
to have been introduced unintentionally in
life Sanctuary in the late 1990s. Trapezitesphi-
the late 1990s. In contrast, Toxidia doubleday
galioidesisresidentintheElthamareaandpre-
established itself naturally during a period of sumablythetranslocatedfoodplantscontained
range expansion in the Melbourne area during
sufficientnumbersoftheearlystages (eitheras
the 1990s.
InthecaseofTrapezitessymmomus thegoals eggs, larvae or pupae) ofthis species so that a
, breeding colony was inadvertently established
ofthis experimental introduction were three-
inthereserves.
fold: (1) to introduce secondary science stu- In 1993, Toxidia doubleday was recorded in
dents to practical butterfly conservation; (2) to abundanceforthefirsttimefromseveralsitesat
assessthefeasibilityofestablishinga ‘new’but-
terflypopulation ofa species in a conservation Eltham where I had not seen it previously, and
reservefrom which it was previouslyabsent or oftrhoemrennetwomloolcoagtiisotnss/niantutrhaelilsotswearlsYoaorbrsaeVravleldeyi,t
was no longer extant; and (3) to enhance the includingEast Malvern, Janefield (PlentyRiver
local biodiversity of the La Trobe University
Gorge), Cottlesbridge and Warrandyte during
sreysmermvoemsuessthataesn(Borwabpyers1i9s9t1e)d.aTthGerefsascwteltlhaFtorT-. the 1993-94flightseason (Braby 1994). On the
eLsatTNrCobRefWoirld2l3ifyeeaSrasncatnudartyhawthietrceoliotnhiassedbetehne btianhsatitshtehoeMfesltkhibepospueerrnowebasaserreevaxa,tpipaoonsndssiinbigtlyiwtiasnsrraencsgopenoclnlosuceadletldoy
establishedforatleast20yearssincethespecies
wasfirstintroduced intoGresswell ForestNCR unseasonablycool andwetconditionsthatpre-
in 1988 indicates that these goals have been vailed during 1992-1994. In 1995, I found the
species breeding at Eltham on Weeping Grass
achieved. Moreover, in thelate 1990sand early
2000s,a decade afterinitial habitatenrichment Microlaenastipoides, anda decade later (5 No-
of T. symmomus at Gresswell Forest NCR, the vember 2006) at Greensborough (Yandell Re-
two patches ofLomandra longifolia along Salt serve) I recorded a final instar larva within a
rolled leafshelter ofThatch Saw-sedge Gahnia
Creek,whichareseparatedbyadistanceof200
m, were startingto expand via natural recruit- radula [presumablythesedgewasbeingusedas
a pupation siteanddid not represent thelarval
Vol 129 (3) 2012 93
Research Reports
foodplant].TheobservationsmadeatLaTrobe ment and ecological restoration from a variety
University suggest that this univoltine species of threats (Yen 2011). The major threatening
is now established in the Wildlife Sanctuary processes facing urban butterflies in conserva-
and adjacent conservation reserves, and most tion reserves are invasion ofexotic weeds, hu-
likely it colonised the area naturally sometime man pressures (e.g. recreation activities, rub-
between 1995 and2000. bish dumping, vegetation trampling, domestic
Of the species recorded from the conserva- and street run-off), altered fire regime includ-
tion reserves and university campus, 22 (71%) ing inappropriate fuel reduction burns, and
are now considered to be resident based on vegetationsuccession (NewandSands2002).
presence of the immature stages or availabil- WithrespecttotheLaTrobeWildlifeSanctu-
ity oflarval food resources and adult popula- ary, Gresswell Forest NCR and Gresswell Hill
tion structure (Table 3). That is, these species NCR., conservation management and ecologi-
breedregularlywithsomestageofthelifecycle cal restoration ofthese three conservation re-
presentatalltimesoftheyear.Oftheremaining serves over the past two decades appears to
nine species, four are considered to be visitors have benefited butterflies associated with the
(specimens regularlyenter the area but do not understorey ground layer, in particular the
breed or very rarely breed), two are vagrants Lomandra-feeding and several of the grass-
(specimens occasionally enter the area but do feeding specialists. Previously, populations of
not breed), and three are immigrants (popula- Trapezites symmomus, T. phigalioides, Signeta
tions ofmigratoryspecies whichenterthearea flammeata, Toxidia doubledayi, Geitoneura
on aseasonalbasisbutdonotbreed) (Table3). acantha and Heteronympha penelope were
Interestingly,oftheresidentspeciesahighpro- either absent or occurred in very low abun-
portionofthese(9/22 or41%) specialiseaslar- dance and two ofthese species S flammeata,
vae on Poaceae (Table 3). These grass-feeding H. penelope) were thought to be(n.on-resident.
butterflies belong to two taxonomic groups: However, extensive management and restora-
the Hesperiidae and Nymphalidae: Satyrinae. tion of riparian habitats, especially revegeta-
The actual species ofgrass used in the conser- tion ofthe indigenous flora and weed control/
vation reserves have not been determined, but eradication overthepast20years (G Parasand
arelikelytoincludeseveralofthemoist,shade- BSmithpers.comm.2005),hasledtodramatic
loving species such as Microlaena stipoides, changesinthestructureandcompositionofthe
Poa morrisii, P. labillardieri and P ensiformis, vegetationinGresswellForestNCR.Inparticu-
all ofwhich occurin thereservesandmost are lar, the extensive plantings ofindigenous trees
known larval food plants for these butterflies and shrubs along Salt Creek has increased the
elsewhere (Braby2000). Larval food plants for extent ofthe shaded understorey, with a con-
the other resident species include Acacia spp. comitantincreaseintheextentofnativeshade-
(3 butterfly spp.), Lomandra spp. (2 butterfly tolerantgrasses such asMicrolaenastipoides. It
spp.), various legumes (2 butterfly spp.) and would appear that this change in microhabitat
the mistletoe Muellerina eucalyptoides (2 but- has been beneficial to sedentary species such
terflyspp.) which chieflyparasitisesEucalyptus as G. acantha and H. penelope. In the case of
camaldulensis. H. penelope, it is possible that this species al-
Thekeyelementsinsuccessfulurbanbutterfly ways existed in Gresswell Forest NCR, but it
conservationincludehabitatprotectionandsite wasrarelydetectedinthe 1980sduetoitssmall
security,managementofthreateningprocesses, populationsize. Itisnowresidentinthereserve
habitatrestorationandenrichment(whichmay andappears tobeabundant.
includetranslocation),andmonitoring,togeth- The introduction ofTrapezites symmomus in
er with education and scientific knowledge of 1988anditslong-termpersistenceinGresswell
theecological requirementsofthefocal species Forest NCR and La Trobe Wildlife Sanctu-
(New and Sands 2002; New et al. 2007). But- ary for over two decades represents one offew
terflypopulationsinurbanlandscapestypically documented attempts to translocate a native
occur in small, fragmented and isolated sites, speciesofbutterflysuccessfullyintoaconserva-
which frequently require intensive manage- tion reservein Australia. MjadweschandNally
94 TheVictorian Naturalist
Research Reports
Table3. Listofbutterfliesrecordedfrom LaTrobeWildlifeSanctuary(LTUWS),Gresswell Hill NatureCon-
servationReserve(GHNCR) andGresswell ForestNatureConservation Reserve(GFNCR)andtheirecologi-
calstatus.Larvalfoodplantsaregivenforresidentspecies:thesearelistedtospecieslevelwheretheyhavebeen
recordedwithinthereserves,ortofamilylevelwheretheyhavenotbeennotrecordedwithinthereserves,the
taxalistedbeingbasedonpublished recordselsewhere fortheMelbourne region. + =species recorded from
area;o=evidenceofspeciesbreedinginarea,^recordedfromuniversitycampusonly.
Species LTUWS GHNCR GFNCR Ecological Larvalfoodplant
status
Trapezitessymmomus +,o +,0 resident Lomandralongifolia
Trapezitesphigalioides + resident Asparagaceae
Disparcompacta + + + resident Poaceae
Toxidiadoubledayi + + + resident Poaceae
Signetaflammeata + resident Poaceae
Taractrocerapapyria + + + resident Poaceae
Ocybadisteswalkeri + + +,0 resident Poaceae
Papilioanactus + + + visitor
Euremasmilax + immigrant
Belenoisjava + + + immigrant
Deliasaganippe + visitor
Deliasharpalyce + + +,0 resident Muellerina
eucalyptoides
Pierisrapae + + + resident Brassicaceae
Danauspetilia + + immigrant
Danausplexippus + vagrant
Vanessa itea + + + visitor
Vanessakershawi + + + resident Asteraceae
Junoniavillida + + + resident Plantaginaceae,
Scrophulariaceae
Charaxessempronius* vagrant
Heteronymphamerope + + + resident Poaceae
Heteronymphapenelope + + resident Poaceae
Geitoneuraacantha + + + resident Poaceae
Geitoneuraklugii + + + resident Poaceae
Hypochrysopsdelicia +,0 +,0 +,0 resident Acaciamearnsii,
A.pycnantha
Ogyrisabrota +,0 +,0 resident Muellerina
eucalyptoides
Ogyrisolane + visitor
Jalmenusevagoras +,0 + +,0 resident Acaciamearnsii,
A. melanoxylon,
A.pycnantha,
A.dealbata
Nacadubabiocellata + +,0 + resident Acaciaimplexa
Theclinesthesserpentatus + resident Amaranthaceae
Larnpidesboeticus + + -1- resident Fabaceae
Zizinaotis + + + resident Fabaceae
(2008) reported the successful salvage of the colonise new sites. For example, conservation
endangered Purple Copper Paralucia spinifera management of Hesperilla flavescens in Vic-
inthecentraltablelandsofsouthernNewSouth toria over the last decade has involved several
Walesinwhich 1260larvaewereremovedfrom approaches aimed primarily at increasing the
theirfoodplantsfrom asite(abouttobedevel- extent ofits larval food plant, the Chaffy Saw-
oped for road realignment) and transferred to Sedge Gahnia filum through a revegetation
,
an adjacent area. Other initiatives to augment program, including propagation and planting
and enhance breeding habitats within urban from seed, natural recruitment through aided
reservesorestablish newhabitats(seeNewand seed dispersal, mosaicburningto stimulate re-
Sands 2002 for review) have relied on natural generation,and translocationofindividualtus-
dispersal of the relevant butterfly species to sockstocreatenewhabitat(Savage2002inRelf
Vol 129 (3) 2012 95