Toxidia senta

Toxidia senta (Miskin, 1891)
Spotted Grass-skipper
(previously known as Hesperilla senta)
TRAPEZITINAE, HESPERIIDAE, HESPERIOIDEA

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

Male
(Photo: courtesy of Andy Young and Rowan Moore)

This Caterpillar grows to a length of about 2 cms. It is pinkish brown with a dark dorsal line and pale lateral lines. The head and thorax are black. The Caterpillar feeds at night on

Kangaroo Grass ( Themeda triandra, POACEAE ),

resting by day in a shelter made from a folded leaf held with silk. The Caterpillar eventually pupates in the same shelter.

Male underside
(Photo: courtesy of Andy Young and Rowan Moore)

The adult butterflies are dark brown with white spots. Underneath is paler,and the spots are edged in dark brown. The males have a black line across part of each forewing. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 2.5 cms.

Female
(Photo: courtesy of Andy Young and Rowan Moore)

The eggs are laid singly on the underside of a leaf of the base of a young foodplant, especially in regrowth areas after a fire.

Female underside
(Photo: courtesy of Andy Young and Rowan Moore)

The species occurs sporadically across the tropical north of Australia, including

Western Australia,

Northern Territory, and

Queensland.