''Hesperilla donnysa'', also known as the donnysa skipper or varied sedge 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 Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...
,
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_ ...
,
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
,
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
,
Victoria and
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
.
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 30 mm for males and 35 mm for females.
The larvae feed on various sword grass species, including ''
Gahnia sieberiana''. Other recorded food plants include ''
Gahnia decomposita'', ''
Gahnia aspera
''Gahnia aspera'' known as the rough saw-sedge or round sawsedge is a tussock forming perennial plant, often seen in moist situations. The long strap like leaves grow to 80 cm long.
Originally described by botanist Robert Brown as ''Lamp ...
'', ''
Gahnia clarkei'', ''
Gahnia deusta'', ''
Gahnia erythrocarpa'', ''
Gahnia filifolia
''Gahnia filifolia'' is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, that is native to central parts of New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales ...
'', ''
Gahnia grandis'', ''
Gahnia lanigera'', ''
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 ...
'', ''
Gahnia radula'', ''
Gahnia subaequiglumis'' and ''
Gahnia trifida
''Gahnia trifida'', the coastal saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to southern Australia.
A herb, sedge or grass-like, with very rough leaf margins and underside. The species grows in dense tussocks, 1. ...
''.
Subspecies
*''Hesperilla donnysa galena'' (around
Geraldton, Western Australia)
*''Hesperilla donnysa albina'' (south-western Western Australia)
*''Hesperilla donnysa aurantia'' (Tasmania and local islands)
*''Hesperilla donnysa donnysa'' (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria)
**Synonyms:
**''Hesperilla donnysa diluta''
**''Hesperilla donnysa icaria''
**''Hesperilla donnysa patmos''
**''Hesperilla donnysa samos''
**''Hesperilla donnysa delos''
External links
Australian InsectsAustralian Faunal Directory
Trapezitinae
Butterflies described in 1868
Butterflies of Australia
Taxa named by William Chapman Hewitson
{{Hesperiidae-stub