Neohesperilla croceus

Neohesperilla croceus (Miskin, 1889)
(one synonym : Hesperilla satulla)
Crocea Skipper
TRAPEZITINAE , HESPERIIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

This Caterpillar is brown, with a black head. The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 2 cms. It lives by day in a shelter made of a folded leaf joined with silk, feeding at night. It has been found on various grasses ( POACEAE ) including

Spear Grass ( Chrysopogon aciculatus ), and

Thick Bluestem ( Schizachyrium pachyarthron ).

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The caterpillar pupates in its leafy shelter.

female
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The butterflies of this species are dark brown on top with three sets of pale spots on each forewing and a translucent set of spots on each hindwing.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The males have a short grey line near the centre of the upperside of each forewing.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

Underneath: the wings are paler and the patterns are similar to those on the upper surfaces. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The eggs are initially white, and develop darker markings as hatching approaches. The eggs are hemispherical with ribs, and are laid singly on leaves of a foodplant.

The species is found

New Guinea,
and in coastal paperbark swamps in

Northern Territory, and

Queensland.