Long-lost butterflies released at wetland

WORDS Erica Visser

A long-lost breed of butterfly has been released into Salisbury’s Greenfields Wetlands with hopes the species will re-establish at the site.

Sixty-five Yellowish Sedge-skipper caterpillars, protected in cylindrical cardboard shelters, were zip-tied to its host plant, Gahnia filum (Thatching Grass) at various locations within the wetlands during June – with a number of adult butterflies also released in spring in an initiative headed by Green Adelaide.

Cages were placed atop the some of the plants to offer greater protection from predators such as birds.

The project follows 20 years of work to restore the butterfly species, which has been considered to be regionally extinct in the northern Adelaide region since the 1980s.

The butterfly plays an important environmental role in pollinating plants and pest management.

It is hoped the undertaking would lead to the uptake of the species at the Greenfields Wetlands, located off Salisbury Highway, following success with a similar release at the Aldinga Washpool in 2020.

Environmentalist Peri Coleman, who wrote the original plan for the reintroduction of the Yellowish Sedge-Skipper more than two decades ago, said she was “thrilled” to be involved with the release at Greenfields Wetlands.

“This has been a long time coming and a lot of work has gone into restoring this land over the years,” Ms Coleman said. “We’ve seen so many kids from places like Burton Primary School involved with planting the Gahnia (thatching grass) here, and now a generation later, they are releasing baby butterflies.”

Council is committed to implementing initiatives that contribute to achieving an environmentally sustainable city.

Salisbury has more than 50 constructed wetlands which provide important habitats for a range of flora and fauna and promote effective water management.