Hesperilla sexguttata
Encyclopedia
The Riverine Sedge-skipper or Six-spot Skipper (Hesperilla sexguttata) is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the Northern Territory
, Queensland
and Western Australia
.
The wingspan
is about 25 mm.
The larvae feed on Cyperus decompositus, Cyperus javanicus and Cyperus microcephalus. They create a shelter by curling leaves of their host and holding them with silk. They hide in this shelter during the day and emerge to feed nocturnally. Pupation takes place inside 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 the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, 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 Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
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 25 mm.
The larvae feed on Cyperus decompositus, Cyperus javanicus and Cyperus microcephalus. They create a shelter by curling leaves of their host and holding them with silk. They hide in this shelter during the day and emerge to feed nocturnally. Pupation takes place inside this shelter.