Conservation concerns for butterflies in urban areas of Australia

The threats of rapid urbanisation to Australian butterflies are discussed, and examples given of the taxa of conservation concern and measures for their management. Compounding threats, such as intensive recreational activity in coastal regions, are also important consequences of urbanisation. Maintenance of threatened specialist species and more generalist widespread species may demand rather different approaches for practical conservation. Most species capable of persisting in urban areas depend on their adults adapting to modified habitats, and their immature stages utilising cultivated exotic or native food plants. Exotic weeds and inappropriate fire regimes are recognised as major threats to the survival of species in remnant bushland.