July 2026 News Update
Adelaide's Chequered Copper butterfly is under threat in Pakapakanthi Park
Join us for a rally
25 July 2026, 11 am
Meet at Park 16 at the corner of Halifax St and East Tce, Adelaide
Please join us in another attempt to bring attention to the plight of Adelaide’s Chequered Copper Butterfly Lucia limbaria colony. This remnant population of butterfly will be wiped out by the MotoGP if the proposal to extend the existing track into Pakapakanthi Park 16 goes ahead. This will not only permanently remove this remnant butterfly population, the cutting down of mature trees will cause irreparable damage to this park and the flora and fauna they support.
We want to join together, to form the shape of a butterfly that will be photographed by drone. If you would like to come dressed as a butterfly that would be awesome.
Promoted by: The South East Residents Association Inc (SECRA), Butterfly Conservation SA and the Adelaide Park Lands Association.
Further information:
This colony cannot be relocated because the caterpillars have a symbiotic relationship with ants. They live in the nest of the ant Iridomyrmex rufoniger. The ants herd the caterpillars out of the colony to feed and protect them from predators and in return the caterpillars provide a mixture of protein and sugar which the ants feed off – we call this honey dew.
We believe this colony has been there since colonisation and is a vulnerable species on the Adelaide plains with very few known colonies. It had not been seen on the Adelaide parklands until 2011 when the colony on Park 16 was re-discovered. Since that time the Adelaide City Council have protected this area, and the Friends of the Chequered Copper Butterfly have been monitoring the population.
Go online to view the remarkable story of Adelaide’s Copper Lucia limbaria on YouTube: watch here.
After meeting with the MotoGP Board and contacting politicians, we don't believe our concerns for the survival of this remnant population of butterflies are being listened to.
It’s time to renew your membership
Renew your membership of Friends of Willunga Basin from July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Being a member of Friends of Willunga Basin Inc (FOWB) means being part of a passionate community that actively protects and enhances the region’s unique cultural, ecological, and economic identity.
For just $20 per year (single or family), you’ll gain access to exclusive insights, opportunities to shape the future of Willunga Basin, and the chance to be part of a dynamic and proactive community. Membership runs from July 2026 to June 2027, so now’s the perfect time to join or renew!
Join and pay online using the form here, or contact us for other payment options.
