General News
24 June, 2023
Students back butterfly conservation plan
Rainbow P-12 College partnered with Zoos Victoria and Hindmarsh Landcare last week to plant a habitat for the endangered golden-rayed blue butterfly at Rainbow Lake. Found exclusively in the Wimmera, the golden-rayed blue is the only butterfly known...
Rainbow P-12 College partnered with Zoos Victoria and Hindmarsh Landcare last week to plant a habitat for the endangered golden-rayed blue butterfly at Rainbow Lake.
Found exclusively in the Wimmera, the golden-rayed blue is the only butterfly known to be endemic to Victoria and feeds on only one species of plant, known commonly as creeping boobialla.
Because of its very restricted distribution, threats and likelihood of ongoing population decline, the golden-rayed blue butterfly is listed as Critically Endangered on Victoria’s threatened invertebrate advisory list.
Rainbow Lake has been identified as an ideal spot to grow creeping boobialla, and it is hoped the butterflies will be attracted to feed and breed in more locations across the Wimmera.
The students and teachers helped plant over 300 creeping boobialla around the lake, and will be involved in looking after the new additions, and monitoring them for any signs of the rare and beautiful butterfly in years to come.
As well as learning about the golden-rayed blue butterfly and the creeping boobialla, students were also about to learn more about the natural features around Rainbow Lake, with younger classes examining the environment closely with magnifying glasses and binoculars.
The school says it is "very excited" to have its students become citizen scientists in this project, and thanks the Lake Committee for supplying the delicious barbecue lunch.