Spotted Skipper - Hesperilla ornata 

Family HESPERIIDAE 

This page contains information and pictures about Symmomus Skipper Butterflies in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia. This is also known as Spotted Sedge-skipper.

Body length 15mm 
We found this skipper butterfly a few times in Yugarapul Park during early summer. It was resting on a sunny spot. When disturbed, it fly slowly to another sunny spot and rest. 
 
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The wings on the upper side are black with pale yellow spots. There is a dark yellow band on each hind wing.
 
Their caterpillars are pale green in colour, feed on Sword-grass, which make the tubular shelters by the grass blades.  
 
 
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On Jan 2011 along Buhot Creek, we found a few of them flying around. 
 
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Some of them were laying eggs on host-plants.  
Reference and Link:
1. Hesperilla ornata - Australian Caterpillars, Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2005.
2. Hesperilla ornata - Australian Insect Common Names, CSIRO 2005.
3. Butterflies of Australia and New Guinea - Barrett, Charles and A. N. Burns, Melbourne, N. H. Seward, 1951, pp179.
4. Australian Tropical Butterflies - By Peter Valentine, Clifford Frith (photos), Dawn Frith (photos), 1991, pp13. 
5. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia - Michael F Braby, Australian National University, CSIRO 2004, p68.
 

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Last updated: January 22, 2011.