Ocybadistes ardea Bethune-Baker, 1906
(one synonym: Apaustus heterobatha)
Dark Orange Dart
 HESPERIINAE ,   HESPERIIDAE

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


(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

This caterpillar is green with a dark dorsal line and a pale tail. The head is black and develops six white blotches. The caterpillar is thought to feed on

  • Grass ( POACEAE ).


    mating pair
    (Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

    The adult butterfly has brown wing upper surfaces, with orange markings. The undersides are similar but more yellowish. The males have a black patch near the middle of the upper surface of each forewing. The adults have a wingspan of about 2 cms.


    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    The species is found as several subspecies in

  • Indonesia,
  • New Guinea,
    and along the coast of
  • Queensland.


    underside
    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, pp. 207-208.

    previous
    back
    caterpillar
    Australian
    Australian Butterflies
    butterflies
    Australian
    home
    caterpillars
    Australian
    Australian Moths
    moths
    next
    next
    caterpillar

    (written 16 November 1998, updated 21 August 2011)