Hesperilla mastersi
Encyclopedia
The Chequered Sedge-skipper or Master's Skipper (Hesperilla mastersi) is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in New South Wales
, Queensland
and Victoria
. It was also found in Tasmania
, but the small area where its food plant was growing was cleared to provide cattle pasture. It is probably now extinct in Tasmania.
The wingspan
is about 40 mm.
The larvae feed on Gahnia melanocarpa
and Gahnia radula. They constructs a make a shelter joining leaves of their host with silk. They remain in this shelter during the day and come out to feed at night. Pupation takes place within this shelter.
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...
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....
. It was also found in 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...
, but the small area where its food plant was growing was cleared to provide cattle pasture. It is probably now extinct in Tasmania.
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 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....
and Gahnia radula. They constructs a make a shelter joining leaves of their host with silk. They remain in this shelter during the day and come out to feed at night. Pupation takes place within this shelter.