Toxidia peron (Latreille, [1824])
(erroneously: Hesperia peroni)
Large Dingy Skipper
 TRAPEZITINAE ,   HESPERIIDAE

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

Toxidia peron
(Photo copyright: Peter Samson)

These Caterpillars can be either green or brown, with a black head, and are covered in tiny warts. The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 3 cms. They feed on various monocotyledons, including :

  • Buffalo Grass ( Stenotaphrum secundatum, POACEAE ),
  • Saw Sedge ( Gahnia sieberiana, CYPERACEAE ),
  • Flax Lily ( Dianella species, LILIACEAE ), and
  • Mat-rush ( Lomandra, LAXMANIACEAE ).

    Toxidia peron
    (Photo: courtesy of Nick Monaghan)

    The adults are dark brown with a few white spots. The males also have black and white streaks on the forewings. The butterflies have a wing span of about 3 cms.

    Toxidia peron
    female
    (Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

    The species is found in :

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales, and
  • Victoria.

    Toxidia peron
    male
    (Picture: courtesy of CSIRO Entomology)

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby,
    Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, p 138.

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    (updated 19 March 2011)