Taractrocera anisomorpha

Taractrocera anisomorpha (Lower, 1911)
(previously known as: Bibla anisomorpha)
Orange Grass Dart
HESPERIINAE, HESPERIIDAE

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

(updated 18 February 2010)

Taractrocera anisomorpha
male
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

This Caterpillar is pale green with a brown dorsal line. The head is pale brown. It has been found feeding on :

Setaria paspalidioides,

Silky Browntop ( Eulalia aurea ), and

Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ),

all in the Grass family POACEAE. The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 2 cms.

female
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The adult butterflies of this species are dark brown on top with orange markings. The wingspan is usually a bit over 2 cms. The females are a little larger than the males, and have a more convex forewing margin.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

Underneath, they are yellow with pale yellow markings, although the forewings are darker toward the trailing edges.

The species may be found in open eucalypt forest over the northern half of Australia, including:

Northern Territory,

Queensland,

South Australia, and

Western Australia.