Mesodina hayi Edwards and Graham, 1995
Small Iris Skipper
 TRAPEZITINAE ,   HESPERIIDAE

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

The life history of this species has been described by Atkins. The Caterpillar is green with a black line along the back. They are often covered in a white waxy powder. It rests in a tent-like shelter which it makes out of leaves of its foodplant joimed with silk. It rests head downward, as the opening of the shelter is at the bottom. It typically emerges to feed near dusk. It feeds on :

  • Australian Iris ( Patersonia drummondii, IRIDACEAE ).

    The pupa is formed head downward in the shelter.

    The adult butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms. On top, they are dark brown, with two white spots on each forewing. The undersides are similar but paler and patchy. Also there is a subterminal arc of small dark marks under each hindwing.

    The eggs are green and laid singly on the underside of a leaf of a foodplant.

    This species occurs in Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, pp. 186-187.

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    (updated 19 March 2004)