Taractrocera papyria
Encyclopedia
The White-banded Grass-dart (Taractrocera papyria) is a butterfly
of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the Australian Capital Territory
, New South Wales
, Queensland
, South Australia
, Tasmania
, Victoria
and Western Australia
.
The wingspan
is about 30 mm.
The larvae feed on Phragmites australis, Microlaena stipoides
, Imperata cylindrica, Echinopogon caespitosus, Cynodon dactylon
, Austrostipa scabra, Austrodanthonia
, Carex gaudichaudiana, Paspalum dilatatum
, Oryza sativa
, Pennisetum clandestinum
, Ehrharta longiflora, Ehrharta calycina
and Poa
species. It constructs a shelter in which pupation takes place.
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 Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, 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...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, 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...
, 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....
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 30 mm.
The larvae feed on Phragmites australis, Microlaena stipoides
Microlaena stipoides
Microlaena stipoides or Ehrharta stipoides, is a species of grass that occurs naturally in all states of Australia as well as in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines. It has also been introduced into Hawaii and Reunion Island and has been reported as invasive in both...
, Imperata cylindrica, Echinopogon caespitosus, Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon , also known as Dūrvā Grass, Bermuda Grass, Dubo, Dog's Tooth Grass, Bahama Grass, Devil's Grass, Couch Grass, Indian Doab, Arugampul, Grama, and Scutch Grass, is a grass native to north and east Africa, Asia and Australia and southern Europe...
, Austrostipa scabra, Austrodanthonia
Austrodanthonia
Austrodanthonia is a genus of 28 grass species found in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand.Species include:*Austrodanthonia acerosa H.P.Linder*Austrodanthonia alpicola H.P.Linder – Crag Wallaby-grass...
, Carex gaudichaudiana, Paspalum dilatatum
Paspalum dilatatum
Paspalum dilatatum is a species of grass known by the common name dallisgrass. It is native to Brazil and Argentina, but it is known throughout the world as an introduced species and at times a common weed. Its rapid growth and spreading rhizomes make it an invasive pest in some areas...
, Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa, commonly known as Asian rice, is the plant species most commonly referred to in English as rice. Oryza sativa is the cereal with the smallest genome, consisting of just 430Mb across 12 chromosomes...
, Pennisetum clandestinum
Pennisetum clandestinum
The tropical grass species Pennisetum clandestinum is known by several common names, most often kikuyu grass, as it is native to the region of East Africa that is home to the Kĩkũyũ tribe. Because of its rapid growth and aggressive nature, it is categorised as a noxious weed in some regions...
, Ehrharta longiflora, Ehrharta calycina
Ehrharta calycina
Ehrharta calycina is a species of grass known by the common names perennial veldtgrass and purple veldtgrass. It is native to southern Africa, but it is known elsewhere as an introduced species, often becoming weedy...
and Poa
Poa
Poa is a genus of about 500 species of grasses, native to the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Common names include meadow-grass , bluegrass , tussock , and speargrass. "Poa" is Greek for fodder...
species. It constructs a shelter in which pupation takes place.
Subspecies
- Taractrocera papyria agraulia (Hewitson, 1868) - Western Grass-dart (south-western Australia)
- Taractrocera papyria papyria (Boisduval, 1832) (Lord Howe Island, eastern and south-eastern Australian and Tasmania)