Bush Crew diaries February 2024

Published on 22 January 2024

It’s Eltham Copper Butterfly (ECB) flight season! Finally, after many nights of volunteer and crew surveys, our ECB larvae have transformed and emerged into our reserves.

After larvae counts ended in early November, the Bush Crew began to strategically thin the overgrown shrubs that had blocked butterfly flight paths within Andrew Yandell Reserve. Great care was taken to avoid plants that housed larvae, and prevent damage to the ground storey, where the Notoncus ants (their symbiotic partners) reside.

During the butterfly surveys in January, the crew observed ECBs flying in areas of the reserve previously seen by rangers only once before. This is a big win for the species and the crew alike, as population spread indicates that the reserve is being managed in a way that suits this endangered species.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who brought along head torches and gave up their nights in October and November to help count these elusive little critters.