Orange White-spot Skipper
(erroneously: Trapezites heliomacula)
TRAPEZITINAE , HESPERIIDAE
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
male
(Picture: courtesy of
CSIRO Entomology)
Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
male
(Picture: courtesy of
CSIRO Entomology)
These Caterpillars are greyish green with several dark lines along the body. The first and last segments are pinkish fawn. The head is black with rusty brown spots. The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 3 cms. It feeds on various species of Mat-rush ( LAXMANNIACEAE ) including :
The Caterpillars feed nocturnally, resting by day in leaves joined or rolled and secured with silk, at the base of the foodplant.
Pupation occurs within the shelter.
The adults on top are brown with yellow and orange patches. Underneath, the forewings are yellow with black and white patches. The hindwings are yellow with several white spots each outlined in black. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms.
The species is found in Cape York.
Further reading :
Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, pp 109.
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(updated 18 November 2009)