Taractrocera ina Waterhouse, 1932
(one synonym: Bibla iola)
Ina Grass Dart
 HESPERIINAE ,   HESPERIIDAE

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

Taractrocera ina
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

This Caterpillar is pale green. The head is initially black, later becoming black and white.

Taractrocera ina
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The caterpillar has sparse hairs on its tail, and lives in a tubular shelter made of leaves of its food plant, which is one of many species of Grass ( POACEAE ), including :

  • Lemon Scented Grass ( Cymbopogon citrata ),
  • Buffalo Grass ( Panicum maximum ),
  • Ti Grass ( Paspalum conjugatum ),
  • Arm Grass ( Urochloa decumbens ),
  • Rice ( Oryza sativa ), and
  • Sorghum vericilliflorum.

    Taractrocera ina
    (Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

    In summer in the tropics, the Caterpillar matures in about four weeks. It pupates in its grass shelter. The pupa goes through a stage with a cream abdomen and brown wing covering. The pupa has a length of about 1.5 cms. The pupal period in summer is about eleven days.

    Taractrocera ina
    (Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

    The adult butterfly on top is brown with orange markings. Underneath, it is dull yellow with pale yellow markings It has a wingspan of about 2 cms.

    Taractrocera ina
    (Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

    The species is found in inland areas of Australia, including

  • Northern Territory,
  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • South Australia, and
  • Western Australia.

    Taractrocera ina
    (Photo: courtesy of CSIRO Entomology)

    The eggs are white and hemispherical, with no ribs. In Mackay in October, the eggs hatch in six days.

    Taractrocera ina
    (Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby,
    Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, pp. 196-197.

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    (updated 28 October 2009)