Chaetocneme denitza

Chaetocneme denitza (Hewitson, 1867)
(previously known as : Netrocoryne denitza)
Rare Redeye
PYRGINAE , HESPERIIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
and
Peter R. Samson & Stella Crossley

(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston, Jove Creative Publishing P/L)

These caterpillars initially are orange with a black head. Later instars become pink with a pale thorax and anal plate. They have a dark line down the back. The live in a shelter made by cutting a piece of leaf and folding it over and joining it with silk. They cling to the roof of their shelter upside-down by day, coming out to feed in the evening.

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

They have been found feeding on the foliage of various trees, including:

Billy Goat Plum ( Planchonia careya, LECYTHIDACEAE ),

various species of Gum Trees ( Eucalyptus species, MYRTACEAE ),

Brush Box ( Lophostemon confertus, MYRTACEAE ),

Swamp Mahogany ( Lophostemon suaveolens, MYRTACEAE ), and

Jinggul ( Lophostemon grandiflorus, MYRTACEAE ).

The Caterpillars pupate in their shelter.

(Photo copyright: Peter Samson)

The adult butterflies are rusty brown, with blurred dark markings and pale yellow spots on the wings.

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The eyes are red. The wings have a purple suffusion, especially the females, which are usually larger than the males. The males have a wingspan of about 4 cms. The females have a wingspn of about 6 cms.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The undersides are similar to the upper surfaces.

The eggs are brown and dome shape, laid singly on the upper surface of a leaf of a food plant.

This species occurs sporadically over the north of Australia, including

Northern Territory,

Queensland, and

Western Australia.