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Join Dr. Suzi Bond's ongoing ACT Butterfly Research Project since 2014 to monitor 87 butterfly species, including the Small Ant-Blue, in woodlands. Learn about threats, conservation efforts, and the role of Coconut Ant colonies. Explore the life cycles and differences between moths and butterflies.
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Butterfly fauna of ACT woodlands Dr Suzi Bond Fenner School, ANU Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Environment Statistics, ABS
ACT Butterfly Research Project • Ongoing monitoring project since 2014 which collects reliable data on adult butterfly presence and abundance • Over 140 survey sites in the ACT across a range of habitats, including lowland, montane and subalpine woodlands.
Woodland Butterfly Community • 87 butterfly species recorded in the ACT • 69 species recorded from woodlands • 57 species residents or confirmed breeding migrants • Of these 57 species, observations so far on presence, abundance and distribution? • How do these observations change over spring-summer-autumn, and between years?
Threats and conservation • Habitat destruction and degradation • Appropriate hilltop management • Retention and/or addition of key larval food plants and attendant ant colonies
Small Ant-blue • Significant woodland butterfly • Requires substantial Coconut Ant colony (coarse woody debris, eucalypt saplings, mature eucalypts) • Little detail known of life cycle