The Heath Sand-skipper 'Antipodia chaostola' (Meyrick, 1888) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in Central Gippsland, Victoria

2009·3.1 MB·English

by  John, Yen Wainer

Research Reports
The Heath Sand-skipper Antipodia chaostola (Meyrick, 1888)
(Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in Central Gippsland, Victoria
John Wainer and Alan Yen
InvertebrateSurveySection,MuseumVictoria,GPOBox666E,Melbourne,Victoria3001
Currentaddress:DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries,KnoxfieldCentre,PrivateMail Bag 15,
FeintreeGullyDeliveryCentre,Victoria3156Email:[email protected];[email protected]
Abstract
Specimensofthe Heath Sand-skipperbutterflyAntipodia chaostola werefoundfrom onlythreelocationsin a
smmuoornnveavyenigdnetwCaietdnietorsnaplrceoGamidpmpubsunltiattnhydegibneunt1et9re9ar8fl.llyyTahopcepcpeurarerrfsienrrgerseotdrnilcagtreevndatllteof,oaonroderaptslhao-nffta,HceTiahntaghtlycohWwoSearowds-llsaoepneddsg,.eTwGhhaiehcndhioamisiranaavdenurltyae,uuinsccaclooymmp--t
species are stringybarksand peppermints, which commonlyarestunted and sparsedue to the very infertile,
yellowish, gradational soils. Female Heath Sand-skippersappearto favoursmallyoungplants or regrowth of
Saw-sedge, followingbushfires, foroviposition. Asfiremaybeimportantornecessaryfornewgrowth ofSaw-
sedge, it consequently maybe important ornecessary for the persistenceofthe Heath Sand-skipper. Usinga
9-12year fuel reduction burn cycle,and staggering theburningofpatchesofthehabitat in a mosaic pattern,
seem necessary toprovideaconstantavailabilityofappropriatehabitatforthe HeathSand-skipper. (7he Victo-
rianNaturalist 126(6),2009, 192-202)
Keywords: Thatch Saw-sedge, Gahnia radula habitat, HeathyWoodland,bushfire
,
Introduction
The Heath Sand-skipperAntipodia chaostola is or nominated for listing as threatened under
a medium-sizedmskmipper,withawingspamnmofap- the Fauna and Flora Guarantee Act in Victoria,
proximately 30 for males and 35 for although Crosby (1990a) suggested that this
females (Fig. 1). As it is fast flyingand dull col- might prove necessary. Sands and New (2002)
oured, it is inconspicuous in flight. It is distin- regarded the Victorian subspecies, A. chaostola
guished fromitscongenersbyitsorange-brown chares (Waterhouse 1933), as having no nation-
colour, and differs from hesperilline and other al conservation significance. Couchman and
trapezitineskippersbythepresenceofscattered Couchman (1977) considered the Tasmanian
orangehindwingmaculation, and in behaviour subspeciesA. chaostola leucophaea (Couchman,
by a more open-winged pose when resting in 1946) rare, and it is listed as endangered under
sunshine (Atkins 1984). Larvae are unlikely the Tasmanian ThreatenedSpeciesProtectionAct
to be confused with other butterfly species ex- 1995.
ploiting the same food plant as they have an The principal aims ofthe present study were
unusual habit ofpositioning head down in a to survey for the presence of A. chaostola in
downward opening shelter, and have an unu- potentially suitable areas ofHeathy Woodland,
sual bright red prothorax (Grund 1988). Braby its preferred habitat, in central Gippsland, and
et al (1997) coined the common name Heath to investigate the response of A. chaostola to
Sand-skippertoreplacethepreviouslyaccepted fire. Recommendations then can be made for
Chaostola Skipper. the most appropriate control burning manage-
Antipodia chaostola is an uncommon or rare ment regimes in Heathy Woodland necessary
species throughout its geographical range (Bra- to maintain habitat suitable to encourage the
by 2000; Douglas 1993; Dunn et al 1994; Field butterfly’spersistence.
1995; Neyland 1994). Sands (1990) regardedthe
Biology
species as endangered and included it in a cat-
egoryhedefined as generallywidelydistributed The genus Antipodia, as currently recognised,
but decreasing in abundance to the point where contains three species (Braby 2000). They are
theirsurvivalisthreatened’. Ithasnotbeenlisted separated from nearby genera by a number
192 The Victorian Naturalist
Research Reports
Fig. 1. TheHeathSand-skipperAntipodiachaostola. Photo: RossField.
of distinctive characteristics. One is their lar- 1998). Activity is reduced when conditions
val habit ofoccupying and pupating in a head are windy or overcast (D Crosby pers. comm.
downward position within downward opening 1998). Individualswill often sun themselves on
shelters on their food plant. Saw-sedge Gahnia leaves in sheltered spots. Males defend terri-
spp. (Braby 2000). Three shelters are normally tory from a perch on a prominent twig or leaf
constructed by each larva as it grows (Quick to which theyreturn after inspectingor attack-
1991). Other species assigned to close genera ingnearbyflyinginsects.Theseoccasionallyare
(e.g. Hesperilla and Motasingha) shelter and other skippers, and often include the Austral-
pupate in an upright position. Another unusual ian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi oreven the
y
featureofA. chaostolaisitstwo-yearlifecycle,a large, flower-feeding Jewel Beetle Stigmodera
feature it shares with other members ofthe ge- macularia, both ofwhich can becommon dur-
nusbutwithnootherAustralianskippers(Braby ing Spring months. The Heath Sand-skipper
2000). The larval stage lasts up to 20 months or feeds on nectar from a range oflow bushes or
more (Braby2000). Atkins (1984) reportedthat herbs including Common Rice Flower Pimelea
A. chaostola tlieseachyear,andthatthereareno humilis Prickly Teatree Leptospermum con-
,
discernible constant differences between speci- tinentale, Heath Teatree L. myrsinoides, and
mens in odd and even years. Theirpale, striped Milkmaids Burchardia umbellaia. Males occa-
headandbrightred prothoraxeasilydistinguish sionally have been observed flying near ridge-
larvaeofA. chaostola (Atkins 1984). tops (Atkins 1984). Femalesareless active than
Adult butterflies can be found flying dur- males and flit close to the ground in the sun,
ing October and November, and occasional or sit and sun on leaves, especially those ofthe
specimens have been recorded in September larval food plant preferred in eastern Victoria,
and December. They are generally active only Thatch Saw-sedge G. radula. It is probable that
when the ambient temperature reaches 16°Cor females, especiallygravid individuals, flymany
above, or the humidityis high (Crosby 1990a). kilometres in search ofsuitable food plants in
Between 10 am and noon appears to be the new patches of appropriate habitat (N Quick
best time ofday to see adults; the afternoon is pers. comm. 1998). Soonafteremergence, both
generallylessprofitable (D Crosbypers. comm. sexes seek nuptial’ flight-areas that are shel-
Vol 126 (6) 2009 193
Research Reports
tered, warm and humid. These areas are gener- be another location that has suffered destruc-
ally in physical depressions. Soon after pairing, tionand probableelimination oftheskipper (D
females depart to seek nectar and oviposit in Crosbypers. comm. 1998).
the much wider breeding habitat or ‘dispersal For successful management of the Heath
area’. Maleson theotherhand,appeartoremain Sand-skipperand itshabitat, it is important for
largelywithintheflightarea. Together,theflight land managers to know precisely where it oc-
areaand dispersal areaconstitutea'habitatcell’ curs. Accurate knowledge ofcolony locations,
The two areas may adjoin or be in close prox- including flight and dispersal areas, would pro-
imity but, in general, the breeding (dispersal) vide for effective fire management as well as
m
area appears to extend 50-200 or more out- for repeated monitoring of the skipper. Over-
side the very sheltered and humid flight areas collectingofrarespeciesofbutterflieswasonce
(Quick 1991). considereda majorthreat,butlackofappropri-
The Headi Sand-skipper is a temperate cli- ate land management considerations is now re-
mate species known from averylow number of garded as more important.
sites in the Blue Mountains, NSW, and eastern
Habitat requirements
coastal areas ofTasmania, and in Victoria, it is
rarethroughout itsrangeand muchofitshabitat TheHeathSand-skipperisgenerallyveryscarce
has been cleared (Atkins 1984; McCubbin 1971; and local, apparently dependent on very spe-
Neyland and Bell 2000). Thesubspeciescharesis cialised habitats near sheltered headwaters and
found only in Victoria and is currently known marshlands within stringybark and pepper-
mint DrySclerophyll (Heathy) Woodlands and
from the Grampians region ofwestern Victoria,
Sandy Heaths (Atkins 1984). This habitat typi-
the Anglesea area, locations immediately to the
east ofMelbourne, Central Gippsland and near cally is at the head ofa shallow gully, in gently
Nowa Nowa in EastGippsland.The Blue Moun- undulating areas or sloping ground, especially
tains (New South Wales) locations ofthe Heath on north-facing slopes that are wet to very wet
Sand-skipper, from Katoomba to Lithgow, are in winter. Because ofthe high leach rate, soils
m are invariably impoverished, characteristically
up to 1000 in altitude (Atkins 1984), whereas
supporting scattered but stunted stringyba-
most locations in Victoria and Tasmania are
rks with thickets of Leptospermum spp. and
near sea level or in the foothills below 300 m.
Anexception isthesummit ofMt William inthe Hakea spp., and a heavy groundcover ofvari-
ous sedges and grasses. During the skippers
Grampians,at 1167 m, in anatypical microhabi-
brief flying-season (October and November),
tat where it exploits atypical food plants - Red- these conditions provide shelter from winds
fruit Saw-sedge Gahnia sieberiana and Slender
Saw-sedge G. microstachya (Common and Wa- andformsuntrapsinwhich humiditylevelscan
be high (Quick 1990). Adult butterflies favour
terhouse, 1972).
these small, warm, open patches.
Other than at the Grampians, most records
from Victoria up until the 1950s were from Larvae in Victoria feed principally on small
lfioeclad,tionFsranclkossteont,o MHeealtbhomuornnte,(e.Mga.ccBleesafcioenlsd-, wplaarnmts, odfaGmaphnlioacartaidounlsaignroHweiantghyinWsohoeldtlearendd,
Mt. Evelyn, Ringwood, Wandin), or in Central on poorly drained but sunny sites. Food plants
Gippsland (e.g. Moe, Yallourn, Yinnar), where selected for oviposition by female butterflies
are generally healthy but dwarfed, probably
the habitat has been largely alienated and the
Heath Sand-skipper probably now has been because ofslow growth caused bysoil compac-
eliminated (McCubbin 1971; D Crosby pers. tion. Slow growing, depauperate plants grow-
comm. 1998). Very few collections were made ing on highly leached, impoverished soils may
in the 1960s.The increase in recordsduringthe be chosen to avoid the necessity ofcontinually
reconstructing the shelter as the Gahnia leaf
1970s, 1980s and early 1990s reflects the dis-
covery ofnew localities, such as 10 km south- blades grow. Although the food plant is very
west of Nowa Nowa, Anglesea and at sites in gwirdoewsipnrgeaindvienryViscpteocriiaal,isoendlymiscerloehcatbsitpaetcsimmeanys
the foothills ofCentral Gippsland (e.g. Laber-
touche, Moondarra Reservoirarea, Sweetwater besuitabletosupport larvaeto adulthood. This
TCryeneokngarNeoaratbh)o.utTh1e7 NkomwnaorNtohwoafsYiatreraapgpoena,rasntdo istiytuoaftitohnemsapyeciheasv.eIcfotnhterriebuitselditttoleaonpaptourrtaulnriatry-
for larvae to move from one plant to another,
194 The Victorian Naturalist
Research Reports
they each may be confined to only one small 16-20°C and high humidity to become active,
and slowgrowinghost plant. Iflarvae can slow searches within flight areas occurred particu-
their feeding and extend it over a two-year pe- larlyduringwarmweather.
riod, then this mayallow for new plant growth Information on altitude, aspect, slope and
to replace leaves and keep pace with the larval vegetation preferredbytheHeathSand-skipper
consumption rate. C McCubbin (pers. comm. was obtained by visiting sites where the but-
1998) has proposed that the Heath Sand-skip- terfly previously had been collected. Colour
per breeds in margins ofswampyareas, where aerial photographs, 1:25000 topographic maps
other Gahnia feeding Lepidoptera do not oc- and ecological vegetation class (EVC) maps,
cur, suggesting interspecific competition and where available, were used in an effort to pin-
subsequent niche separation. point further areas of Heathy Woodland that
werepotentiallysuitablehabitat fortheskipper.
Thestudyarea
These locations were thenvisited to determine
Within Central Gippsland, areas surveyed for whetherthevegetation and other environmen-
butterflies were generallyin the foothmills ofthe tal conditions matched those ofknown Heath
Great Dividing Range below 200 altitude Sand-skipper sites and to search for adult but-
with an average annual rainfall of approxi-
mately 1000 mm. Theseareas are encompassed terAftliseis.tes where a specimen was located, a GPS
within the catchments of the Latrobe River, reading of latitude and longitude, notes on
Tanjil River and Tyers River. In addition, other weather conditions, time of day, and a struc-
areas assessed and searched forbutterflieswere tural and floristic vegetation assessment were
in similar foothill countryin the catchments of made. Voucher specimens ofthe Heath Sand-
the Bunyip and Tarago Rivers, in the adjacent skipper were pinned and lodged with the De-
Central Highlands region, and to the south of partment ofEntomology, MuseumVictoria.
the Princes Highway. Gullan et al (1984) de-
scribed twenty vegetation communities for Results
their South and Central Gippsland study area, The Heath Sand-skipper was captured at five
but noted that large areas ofnative vegetation sites during this survey. Figure 2 shows all re-
were cleared for pasture and pine plantations cordedA. chaostola sites in Central Gippsland,
since settlement. at three ofwhich (sites 1, 4 and 5) specimens
werecapturedduringthecurrentsurvey. Sites2
Methods
and 3, a large expanse ofsuitable habitat along
The Heath Sand-skipper food plant in Central Hard Up Haul Track in the Sweetwater Creek
Gippsland, Gahnia radula is very abundant area, are the only new locations found during
andwidespread. As larval shelters areverywell
the present survey. Sites 2 and 3 are approxi-
vlcaeorrnvycaeladcilfhefdeicwutlomtwaatrrokdssetdeh,oewbitnaswteahsoefscitodhneesssieodfpelrlaeenadtvse,msoaarnrede mparTtoheveliydleo1dcakbtmeiloonawsp.aarnt.dsomedetailsofeachsiteare
practical to focus primarily on searches for 1. Location: Tynong North Road, at junction
adult butterflies rather than larvae. Based on with Ferres Track, Tynong North, Bunyip
previous records ofthe dates ofcapture ofthe State Park, 7 km north of Princes Freeway
Heath Sand-skipper in Gippsland, the present
(Fig. 3).
tshuervmeoyntofhsadoufltOcbtuotbteerrflaiensdwNaosvecmobnefirne1d998t.o GPS: 38°00.17'S; 145°37.01'E. Map grid ref-
erence: 784928 (1: 25000 Garfield North).
Searches for larvae, with an experienced lepi- Map altitude: 150 m. Aspect: W. Date: 30
dopterist (Dr RField),in theSweetwaterCreek
October 1998.
aSraenad-isnkiAppprielr 1la9r9v9a,e,faainledd otnollyoctawtoe asnpyecHiemaetnhs Canopy: Mealy Stringvbark Eucalyptus ce-
of another Gahnia-feeding skipper (probably phalocarpa,mBroad-leaved Peppermint E.
dives. 8-10 high, 20-30% cover.
Varied Sedge-skipper HesperiUa donnysa were
found. As adults show greatest activity d)uring Midstorey: Bushy Needlewood Hakea de-
currens, Furze Hakea H. ulicina Hairpin
the two hours before noon, butterfly searches y
included this time period. As the butterflies Banksia Banksia spinulosa, Silver Banksia
require a minimum ambient temperature of B. marginata, Leptospermum continentale, L.
myrsinoides Spike Wattle Acacia oxycedrus
, ,
Vol 126 (6) 2009 195
,
Research Reports
Fig. 2.MapofCentral GippslandshowingknownsitesofA. chaostola. Lines indicatemajorand minorroads.
Stars(sites I-5) indicatelocationsatwhich thespecieswasfoundduringthepresentsurvey.Thespeciesprevi-
FoStouarstelesyt;Phaa3rsk-;bHe2aenr-drHeUacrpodrHdUaeupdlaHtTaraualllcks,iTtr0ea.sc5ke,xkcm1e.p5etaksstimteosfea2Bsetaanordfds3B.eRaSoiratddess,:RH1oa-ardoT,lydnHoCanrrgoeleNdkorfCotrrheeesRtkobafldoor,ceksT,tyLnbalotoncrgko,bNeoLrSatttahrt,oebBeFuoSnretysaittp;e
4- Seninis 1rack,MoondarraStatePark(MSP);5- TyersRivercrossing,MSP;6- Labertouchearea;7-Sweet
water Creek Nature Conservation Reserve; 8 - Seninis Track, MSP; 9 - Junction ofWalhalla and Moondarra
ReservonRoads,MSP; 10 -AndersonTrack, MSP; 11 - EarlyRoad,viaMoondarraReservoirRoad; 12 - Moe;
13 - Yallourn; 14 - Yinnar.
mARGtSr.orwoosoesgntyueeinntpHBiadesaWctaemaiotcutfvhekotleelllEriaeepa:ra.AicEG.,Tr.uioWsrsriuya3iaorcmvmlympueylrorBaehlta,$ieuWusgnsaeihsyr,r,aTrySaualBpmSplaropuseSteeioaausrrd4nsaiGdi0nrmer%gaauwsbWcisCaDooAvrtoiueodtmressl-s.--e, SSAmG1ecyp0rlareo0acsucg%iiinianncdmoeomceilvuoldneacevrsre.dueo,rtln:Aaia.igtliGsamn.:uo,serHOala.nl,dedeuBreluicfar,ue,crSmhLraw.aelarnecdsmoi,anpaBnt.idSnuseepmolinbnanteegualilllnmoeaesa,tlalalL.e.a.
erapeltata,PouchedCoral-fernGleicheniadicar- taken 3.00pm; 22°C, clear,lightsouth breeze;
pa, Grass TriggerplantStylidiumgraminifolium, fourother specimensseen nearby; Trapezites
mPimeleahumilis,MatrushLomandrasp. Upto 1 phigalia common.
Spehicgih,me1n00d%etcaoivlesr:. One female taken 12.00 2106°CN,ovoveemrbcaesrt,1n9o98b:reoenzee;mTa.lpehitgaakleinac1o1.m0m0oanm.;
pm; 25°C, clear, medium north wind. 3. Location: Hard Up Haul Track, 0.5 km east
2. Location: Hard Up HaulTrack, 1.5 km east of of Beards Road, Harold Creek forest block,
Beards Road, Harold Creek forest block, La- Latrobe State Forest, 21 km north ofYarra-
trobeStateForest,21 km northofYarragon. gon Fig. 4).
GPS: 38°00.98’S; 146U05.07'E. Map grid ref- GPS: 38,>01.14'S; 146U04.63'E. Map grid ref-
erence: 195918 (1: 25000 Springsure Hill). erence: 189916 (1:25000 Springsure Hill).
Map altitude: 230 m. Aspect: NW. Date: 6 Map altitude: 240 m. Aspect: N. Date: 25
November 1998. October 1998.
Canopy: Yertchuck Eucalyptus consideniana. Canopy: Messmate Stringybark Eucalyptus
To 10 m high, 10% cover. obliqua. 5 m high, 10% cover.
Midstorey: Occasional Narrow-leaf Wattle Midstorey: L. continentale L. myrsinoides,
,
196 The Victorian Naturalist
Research Reports
Fig. 3. Heath Sand-skipper habitat at site 1 (Tynong North Road, Tynong North, Bunyip State Park), 30
October 1998.
B. marginata B. spinulosa H. decurrens, A. 5. Location: Walhalla Road, 0.5 km south-west
, ,
mucronata G. dicarpa Pink Swamp Heath of Tyers River crossing, Moondarra State
Sprengelia i,ncarnata , Park, 16km north north-east ofMoe.
.
Groundcover: G. radula A. muelleri £ /iu- GPS: 38°02.39'S; 146°19.5TE. Map grid ref-
milis, Gahnia sieberiana,,S. uliginosa,,B. um- erence: 408897 (1: 25000 Moondarra). Map
bellata. 100% cover. altitude: 200m.Aspect:N. Date: 31 October
Specimen details: Two males taken 1.30pm 1998.
m
and 2.00pm; 25°C> clear, very windy; one Canopy:E. obliqua E. consideniana. 15-20
,
other specimens seen nearby. high, 20% cover.
4. Location: Seninis Track, 3 km west ofWal- Midstorey: L. continentale B. spinulosa K.
halla Road, Moondarra State Park, 18 km phylicoides. , ,
northofMoe (Fig. 5). Groundcover: G. radula, P. humilis, S. mazr-
GPS: 38°00.89'S; 146°19.09'E. Map grid ref- Wflta,Lomandra sp.,grasses. 100% cover.
erence: 402919 (1:25000 Moondarra). Map Specimen details: One male taken 11.30 am;
altitude: 240 m. Aspect: N. Date: 3 Novem- 25°C, clear, lightwestwind; two other speci-
ber 1998. mens seen nearbyat 11.00 am.
Canopy: Narrow-leaved Peppermint Euca-
m Discussion
lyptus radiata. 3-10 high, 10% cover.
L Habitatpreference in Central Gippsland
HM.idsdteocrurerye:nsL.H.counlticiinneantaBl.e,spinulmoysarsiBnuoridgeasn, In Central Gippsland, and in the adjacentCen-
, , , tral Highlands region, the Heath Sand-skipper
Kunzeaphylicoides,A. mucronata,S. incarnata.
Gcarropuan,dLcoovmearn:drGa. rspa.d,ulSac,rSe.wulFiegrinnosLai,nGd.sade/a- aepdpteoaarrsetaosbofeHaehaatbhityaWtosopedcliaalnidst,,abneiunngcroesmtrmioctn-
linearis grasses. 100% cover. vegetation community occurring on gentle,
Specim,en details: One male taken 12.30pm; north-facing lower slopes. Heathy Woodlands
25°C, clear,lightwestwind. have developed on yellowish gradational soils,
sandy at the surface, with a clay or coffee rock
Vol 126 (6) 2009 197
Research Reports
Fig.4. Healh Sand-skipperhabitat at site 3 (Hard Up Haul Track, 0.5 km east ofBeards Road, Harold Creek
forestblock,LatrobeStateForest,21 km northofYarragon),29 Febuary2008.
impeding layer at some depth, and are thought to north of Moe. Representative examples are
to bevery old and now infertileremnantsofan reserved within Bunyip State Park, Moondarra
old erosion surface (Land Conservation Coun- State Park and Sweetwater Creek Nature Con-
cil 1991). Soils maybe seasonallywet, but gen- servation Reserve. As the Sclerophyll (Heathy)
erallydryout in summer. Woodland habitat is rare, Gullan et ai (1984)
In areas where the skipper wras recorded, the designated the following locations as sites of
tree canopies of the Heathy Woodland con- botanical significance: the Old Tanjil-Tyers
sisted ofa rangeofstringybarkandpeppermint River (Moondarra) region (state significance),
eucalypt species that could grow to a height the catchment of the Latrobe River south of
of 20 m, but generally were stunted and only Stoll Road (in the south-east section ofthe La-
5-10 m tallandwith a canopycoverof10-30%. troheStateForeste.g. SweetwaterCreek Nature
The midstorey generally consisted of a range Conservation Reserve) and theBull BeefCreek
of low shrubs, including Leptospermum, Aca- catchment (in the Bull BeefCreek Nature Con-
cia:, Hakca and Banksiay and was most diverse servation Reserve),northofOldTanjil,(bothof
and dense in areas that were long unburnt. regionalsignificance),andasmallareaatSeven
Frequent, lowintensityfires favourspecies that MileCreek Road,in theLatrobeState Forest(of
resprout from rhizomessuch as Gahnia radula local significance).
and Austrostipa mueUeri which provided close Numbers of Heath Sand-skippers sighted at
,
to 100% ground cover at the Heath Sand-skip- one location, on a single day, were very low,
per sites. Other ground layer plants included ranging from just one individual, at sites 1, 2
Binaeullear,aS,prGelnegieclhieaniaan,dLBoumracnhdarrdai,aP,imelea, Selag- c(1o6unNtoedveamtbseirte)2a(n6dN5o,vetmobaerm)a.xOinmuomtheorfosci-x
A band of Heathy Woodland straddles the casions during the flight season, at some of
lower foothills to the south ofthe Great Divid- these locations, nospecimens weresighted. Al-
ing Range, at altitudes generally below 300 m, though specimens in the field are inconspicu-
from the Cardinia-Gembrook area eastwards ous and easily overlooked, it is felt that the low
198 TheVictorian Naturalist
Research Reports
Fig.5. HeathSand-skipperhabitatatsite4(SeninisTrack,3kmwestofWalhallaRoad,MoondarraStatePark,
18kmnorthofMoe),29February2008,twoyearsafterburningduringtheMoondarrabushfire.
numbersreflect smallpopulation size. At some skipper. Nevertheless, fire regimes play an im-
sites, including where the Heath Sand-skipper portantroleindeterminingthespeciescompo-
was observed, another skipper. Heath Ochre sitionandabundanceinthisHeathyWoodland
butterfly Trapezitesphigaliaofsimilar size, col- community. Fires, particularly the relatively
ourandhabits, appearedrelativelyabundantin frequent fuel reduction burns, inhibit the de-
the samelocation. Atpreviouslyrecorded sites, velopmentofclimaxvegetation. As the skipper
where populations of the Heath Sand-skipper favours early successional stages ofvegetation
have been regarded as strong, but where none structure, the prevention ofmature vegetation
was found during the current survey (e.g. in maynot,perse, eliminateit. Eliminationofthe
the Sweetwater Creek Nature Conservation early stages (larvae and pupae) ofthe butterfly
Reserve, and along Anderson Track in the byfire is thethreat. Fire represents the greatest
Moondarra State Park) it is possible that the threat to the viability of colonies due to their
species persisted but avoided detection. It so, restrictedarea,theslowrateofbreedingandre-
then the populations must be small. Further sultant changes in the composition and physi-
searchesin these areas to establish the status of cal structure of the habitat (Crosby 1990b).
thespecies wouldbeworthwhile. Because there are larvae present throughout
theyear, there is no time when a fire will not
Managementconsiderations result in losses. Maintaining a full range of
Given the absenceoffirein HeathyWoodland, fire regimes by burning in a mosaic pattern
vegetationsuccessionalchangewouldprobably with different patches experiencing a range
never result in a true forest association. The of fire histories, including unburned areas,
poor, often waterlogged and compacted soils would probably assist flora and fauna con-
of this habitat may prevent the development servation, both inside and outside biological
offorest to some extent, such that some open reserves. As the Heathy Woodland habitat is
patchesofheath remain,aconditionapparently slow growing, the impact of excessive veg-
necessaryforthepersistenceoftheHeath Sand- etation growth on butterfly colonies also is
Vol 126 (6) 2009 199
Research Reports
slow. This allows small infrequent burns to per. In fact, firemaybe important or necessary
achieve the desired effect of clearing exces- for new growth of Gahnia, and consequently
sive growth and fuel accumulation. for the persistence ofthe Heath Sand-skipper.
The response of the Heath Sand-skipper to For the New South Wales subspecies of the
fire is poorly understood. After the Sweetwater Heath Sand-skipper A. chaostola chaostola
Creek Nature Conservation Reserve experi- (Meyrick, 1888) natural fluctuations in adult
enced fire in late 1979, it was eight years before numbers occur because of the interactions of
the skipper was re-recorded. Allowing for the fireandparasitoids(SandsandNew2002). The
two-year life cycle, this indicates re-entry six immature stages naturallyareattacked heavily
yearsafterthefire,orearlier(Quick 1990).Asig- by parasitoids. However, soon after bushfires
nificantportionofthehabitatburnedagainearly when the food plants have recovered, recolo
in 1987,but this time thebutterflycolonybegan nising adults from unburned areas are tem-
recovery after only tour years (Crosby 1990a, porarily able to increase in abundance due to
b). The Heath Sand-skipper site adjacent to the low densities of the natural enemies, mostly
WalhallaRoadin theMoondarraState Park(site parasitoids. dhe species subsequentlysubsides
5) was burned during a wildfire in March 1994, to very low densities, which persist until after
and the Seninis Track site (site 4) was control furtherburningand recolonisation.
burned in April 1993. Therefore, after four and During this survey, no Heath Sand-skippers
fiveyears respectively, thebutterflycolonieshad were located in the Sweetwater Creek Nature
alreadyre-established,giventheassumptionthat Conservation Reserve (1240 ha), although a col-
the presenceofbutterflies impliesan established ony was found about 2 km north ofits northern
colony. IheTynongNorth Roadsite (site 1) was boundary and about 3.5 km north of previous
along a cleared line, recently slashed, parallel Heath Sand-skipper records within the reserve
with the main road,suggestingan opportunistic (Crosby 1990a). This colony was located in the
use of an artificially maintained open, treeless, Latrobe State Forest, along Hard Up Haul Track,
lowheath habitat. in thelarge Harold Creekforest block (1890 ha),
Crosby (1990a) suggested that the Fire Pro- most of which has been provisionally recom-
tection Plan for the Sweetwater Creek Nature mended forsoftwood production (Land Conser-
Conservation Reserve should allow for a five- vation Council 1982). There isa largeexpanse of
yearburn cycleon someperipheral areas (pro- Heathy Woodland (at least 400 ha) in this forest
tection priority 1 zone), and that an 8-12 year block(LandConservationCouncil 1982),where-
programwould beacceptablein theremainder as the area of similar habitat, preferred by the
ofthe reserve (priority 4 zone). This would be 1 leath Sand-skipper, is relativelysmall within the
subject to limitation oftheextent oftheburns Sweetwater Creek Nature Conservation Reserve
and to assessment of the recovery rate since (Department ofPrimary Industries 2008). Only
thelastburn. A burn cycleof5-7yearsisprob- two small areas within the Harold Creek forest
ably the minimum frequencycapable ofmain- block have been designated Special Protection
taining Heath Sand-skippers (N Quick pers. Zones by the Department of Sustainability and
comm. 1998). Burning in a mosaic pattern Environment (2008), a forest management zone
wouldbepreferable,toallow forrecolonisation where timber harvesting is excluded. However,
bybutterflies from nearbyunburned areas. Fe- neitherofthesezonesencompassesthe mainare-
malesmayflylargedistances, layingoneorfew asofHeathyWoodlandhabitat,particularlythose
eggs in manydifferent locations, and therefore southofHard UpHaulTrack,towardsStoll Road
may move into recently burned areas where andsouthofStollRoadtowardsthenorthbound-
there is new Gahnia growth (A Atkins pers. aryoftheSweetwaterCreekNatureConservation
comm. 1998). Each female has the potential Reserve. Except for these small Special Protec-
to lay 35-50 eggs, and up to 60 under excep- tion Zones, the entire Harold Creek forest block,
tional conditions (Quick 1991). Females ap- as well as a strip ofland roughly 1 km in width
pear to favour small young plants orregrowth between theforestblockandtheLatrobeRiver,is
following bushfires for oviposition (Atkins included within the General Management Zone,
1984). Fire generally does not eradicate Gah- a zone where sustainable timber harvesting is a
nia radula and after fire the plant regenerates majoruse(VicForests2008).
well, providing good conditions for the skip-
200 The Victorian Naturalist
1
Research Reports
The Heath Sand-skipper has been recorded Conclusion
fromsixareaswithintheMoondarraStatePark. In Central Gippsland, the Heath Sand-skipper
Before creationofthe park, three,perhapsfour may persist at only three separate localities,
of these may already have disappeared due to viz. Tynong North, the Sweetwater Creek area
various causes (Quick 1991). The Early Road north of Tarragon, and the Moondarra State
colony (site2aofCrosby 1990b), aonce-strong Park. Thespecies appears to be lostfrom other
population, is believed to have been lost be- recordedlocalities within the region, aswell as
cause of its proximity to a plantation ofPinus from somesites in theMoondarra State Park.
radiata (Quick 1991). The combined effects During the 1998 survey, no sightings were
ofreduced ground-water availability, dust and made in the Sweetwater Creek Nature Conser-
pine-pollen contamination ofthe Gahnia foli- vation Reserve, although the skipperwas found
age, and overshadowing, may have lead to the in an extensive patch of the preferred Heathy
decline. Before the 2006 Moondarra bushfire Woodlandvegetation communityin the Harold
the vegetation at this site had been long un- Creek forest block, immediately north of the
burned as it was completelyenclosed by pines, Reserve. As significant suitable habitat for this
andthereforebecameverydenseandtall,prob- butterfly occurs mostlyoutside the Reserve, the
ably contributing to its unacceptability for the management ofthese non-reserved areas needs
Heath Sand-skipper. The colony at site 2 of to be assessed for successful conservation ofthe
Crosby(1990b),atthejunctionofWalhallaand butterfly
Moondarra Reservoir Roads, may have disap- Using a 9-12 year fuel reduction burn cycle,
peared because the location had been regularly and staggering the burning of patches of the
slashed, and was degraded by the construction habitat in a mosaic pattern, are probably suit-
of road cuttings and embankments, as well as able strategiesto provide aconstant availability
the laying of an underground water pipeline ofappropriate habitatforA. chaostola.
in the early 1980s. During the present survey
Acknowledgements
tithweaSsendiinsicsovTerraecdktahnatdcTovleornsieRsivheardspieterssi(sstietedsa3t Twheialsthp-rSotjeactte wReagsiofnuanldeFdoreasstpaArgtreoefmethnet.CoEnmvmiroonn--
and6together,andsite4respectivelyofCrosby ment Australia was the primaryfunding body and
1990b) but after extensive searching no speci- the then Victorian Department ofNatural Resources
mens were observed at the Anderson Track lo- and Environment commissioned the ensuing re-
cation (Crosbys site 1). Furthersearchesat this port (Wainer 1999). For their valuable information
tsihteecwuorurledntbsetawtousrtohfwthhieleskiinppoerr.deTrhteopersotpabolsiesdh acDhbaaovouistdtotClhraeo,sbwbiyeo,lwoCgohyuarlaldnedsligMkeceoCgtuorbabtphihainnc,kdTiAisnmtrdiNrbeeutwwioaAntnkdoiftnAhs.e,
nine year fuel reduction burn cycle, and stag- late Nigel Quick. John Morey, Ross Field and Nigel
geringtheburningofpatchesofthehabitatin a QuickgenerouslyprovidedguidanceatA. chaostola
mosaicpattern (James 1991) in the Moondarra locations in the field.WethankKen WalkerandPe-
State Parkisprobablysuitabletoprovideacon- terLillywhitefortheirtechnicalassistance,andRoss
Field for helpful comments on the manuscript and
stant availability ofappropriate habitat for the for the photograph ofAntipodia chaostola. The as-
Heath Sand-skipper. sistanceand information providedhy the following
AtallthreelocalitiesatwhichtheHeathSand- DNRE officers is greatly appreciated: John Crain,
skipperwas found during this study (in 1998), Alison Schmidt and John Davies.
strongcolonieswerefound atsites 1,3 and 5 in References
the flightseason ofspring 2005,and at site 1 in AtkinsA (1984)AnewgenusAntipodia(Lepidoptera: Hes-
spring 2006 (R Field pers. comm. 2008). A re- periidae:Trapezitinae)with commentson itsbiologyand
visittothesesites inearly2008 found thatonly 5re8l.ationships. Australian Entomological Magazine 1 , 45-
the Moondarra State Park had experienced fire BrabyMF(2000)ButterfliesofAustralia. TheirIdentification,
since the 1998 survey. Thiswasthe Moondarra BiologyandDistribution. (CSJROPublishing:Melbourne)
obtuhvseehrfMi1or5oe0no0df0aJrhaarn.auIatsrwiytoe2us0l0fdo6rbteshkavtiaplbpuuearrbsnleeddtuorarinenasgruersavuceo-yf CBrob(aum1bt9tym9e7roMf)Fnl,iAe1sAF.ptrBkAoiuavnsintssdriAaoWFln.aiaatlIne)lrJuishontuonorufnKsaLcel,oDoWmfFomEo(ond1tn9go7men2ora)lmToBeugAstytaef3rno6frd,liAQ1euu9ss7ito-crf2ak1Al2uNi.saB-n
cNeosvseimvebefrut)u,retobudtitsecrofvleyrfilfigahntdsewahseonnst(hOecstpoebceire-s CoTturaacslimhaam.na(inaA.ngII.unBsTaaannsddmaCRnooibuaecnrhtYsmeoaannr:BSRoyod(kn1eN9yo7).7)11T,hpepb6u6t-t9er6f.li(eAsuso-f
willre-establishpostfire. tralianBureauofStatistics:Hobart)
Crosby DF (1990a) The butterfly fauna ofthe Sweetwater
Vol 126 (6) 2009 201