Brown Ochre - Trapezites iacchus

Family HESPERIIDAE

This page contains information and pictures about Brown Ochre Butterflies in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia. They are also known as Iacchus Skipper.
Body length 20mm
The butterfly is dark brown in colour with white-yellow patches on forewings. Female and male look very similar.
 
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Underneath the wings is orange-brown in colour with white spots. The spots size may vary between individuals.
 
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Those pictures were taken in Karawatha Forest. There were many of them flying around in the forest from Oct to Jan. 

The Caterpillar Foot Plant

Spiny-headed Mat-rush
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Lomandra longifolia, family Xanthorrhoeaceae  
 
Their Caterpillar  is grayish brown-green, feeds on various species of Mat-rush ( XANTHORRHOEACEAE ). They hide in the shelter during the day, feed at night.
 
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This plant is common in heathlands. They are often used in parks and garden.
 
Reference and Link:
1. Trapezites iacchus - Australian Caterpillars, Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2005.
2. Wild Plants of Greater Brisbane -  Queensland Museum, 2003, pp103.
3. Lomandra longifolia - Morwell National Park Online.
4. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia - Michael F Braby, Australian National University, CSIRO 2004, p48.
 

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Last updated: June 12, 2010.