Hesperilla idothea
Encyclopedia
The Flame Sedge-skipper (Hesperilla idothea) is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in New South Wales
, Queensland
, South Australia
and Victoria
.
The wingspan
is about 40 mm.
The larvae feed on various sword grass species, including Gahnia aspera
, Gahnia clarkei, Gahnia grandis
, Gahnia melanocarpa
, Gahnia radula, Gahnia sieberiana, Gahnia subaequiglumis and Gahnia trifida
.
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 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...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
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 wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is about 40 mm.
The larvae feed on various sword grass species, including Gahnia aspera
Gahnia aspera
Gahnia aspera known as the Rough Saw-sedge is a tussock forming perennial plant, often seen in moist situations. The long strap like leaves grow to 80 cm long....
, Gahnia clarkei, Gahnia grandis
Gahnia grandis
Gahnia grandis is a tussock forming perennial plant found in southeastern Australia and Tasmania.Originally described by botanist Jacques Labillardière as Scleria grandis in 1800, it was placed in its current genus by S. T. Blake in 1969....
, Gahnia melanocarpa
Gahnia melanocarpa
Gahnia melanocarpa known as the Black Fruit Saw-sedge is a tussock forming perennial plant in eastern Australia. Often found in the wetter forests or in rainforest margins, common on the coast but also seen in the tablelands....
, Gahnia radula, Gahnia sieberiana, Gahnia subaequiglumis and Gahnia trifida
Gahnia trifida
Gahnia trifida is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to southern Australia.A herb, sedge or grass-like, with very rough leaf margins and underside. The species grows in dense tussocks, 1.5 metres and 1 metre across, with leaves over 1 metre long and drooping. It is found...
.
Subspecies
- Hesperilla idothea clara Waterhouse, 1932 (South Australia)
- Hesperilla idothea idothea (Miskin, 1889) (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria)