Hypocysta metirius

Hypocysta metirius Butler, 1875
(Erroneously: Hypocista metirius)
Common Brown Ringlet
SATYRINAE , NYMPHALIDAE

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

(Photo: courtesy of Dave Britton, Australian Museum)

These Caterpillars are green or brown with dark lines along the body, and have two short horns on both the head and the tail. The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 2 cms. They feed on common grasses and sedges such as:

Tall Saw Sedge ( Gahnia clarkeis, CYPERACEAE ),

Couch ( Cynodon dactylon, POACEAE ),

Wanderrie Grass ( Eriachne pallescens, POACEAE ), and

Alexfloydia repens ( POACEAE ).

empty pupal skin
(Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

The pupa is brown and hangs from a stem. It has a length of about 1 cm.

(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis, Ingleburn, NSW)

The adult butterflies are brown, with an orange patch on each hind wing ending in an eyespot.

(Photo: courtesy of Nick Monaghan, )

Underneath, the wings are brown, and each hind wing has two eyespots.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

The adult butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms. They may be found along the east coast of Australia, including

Queensland,

New South Wales, and

Victoria.

There have been times when we have seen Hypocysta pseudirius, Hypocysta metirius, and Hypocysta adiante flying together. They are very difficult to tell apart in flight