''Hesperilla crypsargyra'', also known as the silvered skipper or silver hedge-skipper, is a species of

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

in the family

Hesperiidae Skippers are a family of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) named the Hesperiidae. Being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy ...

. It is found in the Australian states of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

and

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

. The

wingspan The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan of ...

is about 20 mm. The larvae feed on various sword grasses, including ''

Gahnia sieberiana ''Gahnia sieberiana'', commonly known as the red-fruit saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial plant in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to Australia. It is a widespread plant that favours damp sunny sites. Many insect larvae have been recorded ...

'', ''

Gahnia grandis ''Gahnia grandis'' is a tussock-forming perennial plant found in southeastern mainland Australia and Tasmania. Originally described by botanist Jacques Labillardière as ''Scleria grandis'' in 1800, it was placed in its current genus by S. T. ...

'' and ''

Gahnia microstachya ''Gahnia microstachya'' is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, that is native to south eastern parts of Australia from New South Wales to Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map ...

''.

Subspecies

*''Hesperilla crypsargyra crypsargyra'' (Meyrick, 1888) (New South Wales, Victoria) *''Hesperilla crypsargyra hopsoni'' Waterhouse, 1927 (New South Wales, Queensland)

References

External links

Australian Insects

Australian Faunal Directory
Trapezitinae Arthropods of New South Wales Insects of Queensland Arthropods of Victoria (state) Butterflies described in 1888 Butterflies of Australia Taxa named by Edward Meyrick {{Hesperiidae-stub