Argynnina cyrila

Argynnina cyrila Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914
(previously known as Xenica cyrila)
Cyril's Brown
SATYRINAE , NYMPHALIDAE

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

(updated 7 May 2008)

These Caterpillars are green with white stripes, sparse prominent hairs, and a black head. Later instars may become brown, and develop a diamond shaped pattern along the back. The Caterpillars have a pair of horns on the head and tail.

(Photo: courtesy of R.P. Field, Museum Victoria)

The Caterpillars feed on :

various species of Grass ( POACEAE ).

The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 2.5 cms.

The pupa is black with length of about 1 cm. It is suspended from a cremaster from the foodplant.

(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis, Sydney)

The upper surfaces of the wings of the adult butterflies are brown with yellow patches. The upper sides of the hind wings have one eyespot each, and the forewings each have a row or three white spots.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

Underneath, the forewings are fawn with black and off-white patches, and a row of three white spots. The underside of each hindwing is fawn with dull orange patches, and a dull eyespot. The butterflies have a wing span of about 4 cms. They are commonly encountered in lush gullies, where the males activly fly around defending territories and visiting local flowers. The females are more secretive.

underdides
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The male adults of this species seem to have a predilection for congregating at hill tops.

The eggs are bright green and spherical. They are laid singly on a foodplant.

The species is found in

southern Queensland,

New South Wales,

South Australia, and

Victoria.