Parnara amalia

Parnara amalia (Semper, [1879])
(one synonym: Pamphila fulgidus)
Hyaline Swift
HESPERIINAE , HESPERIIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

Parnara amalia
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

This Caterpillar feeds on the leaves of :

Southern Cut Grass ( Leersia hexandra ), and

Rice ( Oryza sativa ),

both of POACEAE.

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The caterpillar pupates on a leaf of the foodplant.

(Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

The adult butterfly is dark brown with an orange shading across the wings, and with a series of white spots on each fore wing which are actually translucent. These are the origin of its name: 'hyalos' in Greek means 'glass'.

(Photo: courtesy of Nick Monoghan, taken in Worba Park, Queensland)

The underside is nearly identical to the upper surface, but paler. The wing span is about 3 cms.

The species is thought to be important for the pollination in commercial Cashew Nut plantations.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

The species is found in:

New Guinea,
as well as in Australia in

Northern Territory, and

Queensland.