Page 96 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Hesperiidae
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION
DIS TRIBUTION Eastern Australia
HABITAT
HABIT
A
HABITAT T Moist coastal heathlands with sandy soils
T PLANT
HOST PLANTS S Native iris (Patersonia spp.)
HOST PLANTS
HOS
TE
NOTE
NOTE Caterpillar that is covered in white, waxy powder
NO
CONSERVATION STATUS
CONSERV A TION S T A TUS Not evaluated, but can be locally common
CONSERVATION STATUS
ADULT WINGSPAN
1¼ in (32 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 in (25 mm)
MESODINA HALYZIA
EASTERN IRIS-SKIPPER
94
(HEWITSON, 1868)

The Eastern Iris-skipper caterpillar hatches from an egg laid
singly on the host plant. It builds an elaborate, cylindrical
shelter using silk and three or more leaves from the plant. The
leaves are drawn together into a vertical position and bound
and heavily lined with silk—a process that can take several
days. Larger shelters are constructed as the caterpillar grows.
Actual size
It rests in the shelter, head down during the day, then emerges
from the opening at the bottom of the shelter at dusk to feed
on the nearby foliage. The characteristic V-shaped notch in the
leaves indicates the presence of the caterpillar. There is probably
only one generation a year in the south of the range but two
in northern areas.

Generally, there is only one caterpillar per plant. Pupation
occurs in the final shelter, the pupa suspended head down and

attached by the cremaster to the silk-lined shelter. Adults feed
at flowers but generally stay close to their breeding areas. The

genus contains five species, all endemic to Australia and all using
Patersonia species as food plants.

The Eastern Iris-skipper caterpillar is pale green
with a dense covering of white, waxy powder. The
head is black, covered with white, waxy powder,
and has numerous long, white hairs.