Halyzia Skipper - Mesodina halyzia

This page contains pictures and information about Halyzia Skipper Butterflies that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

Male, body length 20mm

The butterfly is also known as Eastern Iris-skipper.



The first picture above was taken in a Alexandra Hill bushland in early summer. The butterfly was feeding on Tea-tree flowers. Then we found another one (2nd picture) in Burbank during late summer. It was sunbathing on a fallen tree trunk.



The butterflies are dark brown in colour with white spots on fore wings. The spot patterns are slightly different between male and female. All the pictures in this page are male. We did not take any female pictures yet.



Above pictures were taken in Karawatha Forest during early winter.

Silky Purple Flag Iris

Patersonia sericea, Family Iridaceae

Their caterpillars are pale green in colour, covered with white powder. They construct shelter by joining leaves with silk on Iridaceae, include the Silky Purple Flag Iris.

Reference and Link:

1. Mesodina halyzia - Australian Caterpillars, Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2005.

2. Mesodina halyzia - Australian Insect Common Names, CSIRO 2005.

3. Butterflies of Australia and New Guinea - Barrett, Charles and A. N. Burns, Melbourne, N. H. Seward, 1951, pp176.