Spotting a rare butterfly

We look after the largest known population of a special butterfly called the Mallee Bronze Azure butterfly (Ogyris subterrestris). There is only one secure population of this butterfly in Victoria and a couple of smaller populations in South Australia. It would be fantastic if we found some more! The Mallee is a big place so I’m ever hopeful. So, I’ve prepared this identification sheet to help you spot the Mallee Bronze Azure butterfly. You can download an A3 version here.

What to look for

The Mallee Bronze Azure isn't a show-off. It flies low to the ground, and when it lands it does a distinctive little wing shuffle that gives it away. If you're lucky, you might catch the males spiralling up into the air together in a "dog fight". Keep an eye out around big Sugar Ant nests, especially at the base of trees like Black Box, because that's where the females lay their eggs. Adults are on the wing in November - December and March-April.

Spotted one? Tell me!

If you think you've seen a Mallee Bronze Azure, I'd love to hear from you. A photo is a huge help, even a blurry one, along with the date and where you saw it. GPS coordinates or a dropped pin on your phone's map are perfect.

In 2022, we received funding to explore “What makes the Mallee Bronze Azure butterfly so rare?” This project was funded by the Victorian Government through a Landcare grant from the Mallee CMA.