Anisynta dominula
Encyclopedia
The Two-brand Grass-skipper or Dominula Skipper (Anisynta dominula) is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the mountains of New South Wales
, Tasmania
and Victoria
.
The larvae feed on Poa sieberana. The caterpillar is is dark green colour with a darker dorsal line, and a black head. The caterpillar forms a shelter by joining several grass stems together with silk in the middle of a tussock where it lies and pupates.
The adult butterflies are dark brown in color and identified by several white spots on each forewing, but the hindwings are have arcs of white spots. Another identifying feature is the presence of chequered termen to both surfaces each wing, which is broader in the females. The males are differentiated from the females as they have a sex brand on the upper forewing surfaces consisting of a short diagonal black line. The wing span is about 3 cms.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the mountains of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
The larvae feed on Poa sieberana. The caterpillar is is dark green colour with a darker dorsal line, and a black head. The caterpillar forms a shelter by joining several grass stems together with silk in the middle of a tussock where it lies and pupates.
The adult butterflies are dark brown in color and identified by several white spots on each forewing, but the hindwings are have arcs of white spots. Another identifying feature is the presence of chequered termen to both surfaces each wing, which is broader in the females. The males are differentiated from the females as they have a sex brand on the upper forewing surfaces consisting of a short diagonal black line. The wing span is about 3 cms.
Subspecies
- Anisynta dominula dominula
- Anisynta dominula drachmophora
- Anisynta dominula draco
- Anisynta dominula dyris
- Anisynta dominula pria