Mesodina cyanophracta
Encyclopedia
The Blue Iris-skipper is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is endemic to the north-west and south-west coast of Western Australia
.
The wingspan
is about 30 mm.
The larvae feed on Patersonia juncacea, Patersonia lanata, Patersonia umbrosa var. xanthina and Patersonia occidentalis. They construct a shelter formed like a vertical tube and made by joining the leaves of its host plant. It rests in this shelter during the day. Pupation takes place inside the 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 endemic to the north-west and south-west coast of 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 30 mm.
The larvae feed on Patersonia juncacea, Patersonia lanata, Patersonia umbrosa var. xanthina and Patersonia occidentalis. They construct a shelter formed like a vertical tube and made by joining the leaves of its host plant. It rests in this shelter during the day. Pupation takes place inside the shelter.