Page 87 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Hesperiidae
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION Areas of northeastern and eastern Australia
DISTRIBUTION
DIS
HABITAT
HABITAT
HABIT A T Tropical and subtropical rain forests

HOST PLANTS S Wilkiea spp. and Steganthera laxi ora
T PLANT
HOST PLANTS
HOS
NOTE
NO
TE
NOTE Caterpillar that feeds on tough leaves
CONSERVATION STATUS
TUS
A
CONSERV
TION S
T
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but rated not at risk in the north of its range,
A
although of some concern (lower risk) in southern areas,
according to a 2002 report by Environment Australia
ADULT WINGSPAN
2⅛–2⅜ in (54–61 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1¾ in (45 mm)
EUSCHEMON RAFFLESIA
REGENT SKIPPER 85
(W. S. MACLEAY, 1826)
The Regent Skipper caterpillar forms a shelter by joining two

leaves by silk. The leaves remain flat, one over the top of the
other. The larvae feed outside the shelter, usually for only a short
period after dusk, although small caterpillars may also feed in the
early morning. The caterpillar takes several months to complete
development, and there is only one generation a year, possibly Actual size
two in northern areas, the adults being more numerous during
and just after the wet season.

Pupation takes place in the final larval shelter, with the pupa
horizontal but upside down, supported by a silken girdle under
the mesothorax and an attachment by the cremaster. The adults
are active from late afternoon to dusk. The species is the only
member of its genus, and the butterfly is unique in having The Regent Skipper caterpillar is greenish
the same wing-linking mechanism as that of many moths— gray with white ventrolateral and lateral stripes
and two white dorsolateral stripes, the latter
a bristle (frenulum) at the base of the hind wings that links close together and enclosing back areas broken
to a hook (retinaculum) on the underside of the forewing, by white lines. It also has yellow dorsolateral
patches on abdominal segments seven to
enabling stable flight. ten. The prothorax and mesothorax are

yellow, the latter with a pair of short, eshy
dorsolateral tubercles. The head is black
with prominent white spots.