Agricultural
1 November, 2023
Filming a rare butterfly
Members of the Clifton Landcare group have for some time been caretakers of a site that’s one of only a couple of known locations of the Bulloak Jewel Butterfly and now, the results of their work ave been recorded for posterity.
On Friday and Saturday, the 27th and 28th of October, saw a film crew from Natura Pacific on the Bulloak Jewel Butterfly (Hypo chrysops piceata) habitat site at Ellangowan, making footage for another documentary film in their “Back from the Brink” series, featuring this tiny critically endangered species.
Interestingly, a second rare endangered butterfly has been found in the site – ogiris celestia (too rare for a common name) - which, like the Bulloak Jewel Butterfly, is serviced by the inclinata ant in an amazing system of mutual dependency.
Of course, filming the butterfly wasn’t all that easy.
“We needed the help of a boom lift/cherry picker to film the butterflies high up in the Bulloaks’ canopy,” Clifton Landcare’s Louise Skidmore said.
The plan to film the rare species was instigated by retired entomologist Dr Don Sands, who had worked with the CSIRO.
The project to preserve the habitat has been assisted by Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC).
“A generous TRC environmental grant added to its own funds is enabling Clifton Landcare to increase the habitat site with more exclusion fencing, doubling its area to about three hectares,” Ms Skidmore said.
