The sight of these butterflies encompassing this harsh shrub is an unusual image for a species which in a sense has no foliage to speak of.

The timber of the warrior bush is surprisingly dense and close grained with a very fine medullary ray making this species highly drought resistant.

This settlement put many of the environment's species under threat and although the warrior bush was not significantly impacted, it was similarly affected.

Squatters ventured into the zone and with the discovery of artesian water, rapid expansion and intensification of pastoralism across the region began.

These may include widespread overstocking of sheep and cattle which graze on the warrior bush and cause major soil erosion.

Large scale land-clearing for crops, grazing and urban development has reduced native vegetation cover including the warrior bush and led to landscape salinisation, increased sediment, nutrient and salt loads in rivers and streams, loss of habitat and a decline in biodiversity.