Children from Queen of Peace Parish Primary School in Altona Meadows have planted 500 gahnia seedlings to attract the endangered Altona skipper butterfly.
In its caterpillar stage, the butterfly depends on a single gahnia plant – also known as the chaffy saw-sedge – for survival.
Teacher Peter Carlisle said the butterfly’s natural habitat had been affected by urban developments of temperate grasslands areas.
“As part of the students’ role as stewards of the environment, we will be planting native grasses to assist the Altona skipper butterfly to nest and live beside Laverton Creek,” he said.
“This project will assist the butterfly to move between its current nesting home at Cherry Lake to the Truganina wetlands.”
The butterfly, named for its darting movement, has dark-brown wings that fade to yellow at the base.
