Hypocysta irius

Hypocysta irius (Fabricius, 1775)
(Erroneously: Hypocista irius)
Northern Ringlet
SATYRINAE , NYMPHALIDAE

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

(updated 7 May 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis, Sydney)

These Caterpillars are green with a yellow forked tail, and a brown head. They grow to a length of about 1.5 cms. They feed on common grasses ( POACEAE ), such as:

Blady Grass ( Imperata cylindrica ).

The pupa is mottled brown, and has a dorsal ridge on the thorax, and lateral flanges each side of the head. It hangs from a stem, and has a length of about 1 cm.

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

The adult butterflies are brown with an extensive orange patch on each wing, and an eyespot on each hindwing.

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

Underneath, the wings are brown, and each hind wing has two eyespots. The adult butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms.

The eggs are yellow and round, with a diameter of about 0.8 mm. They are laid singly on the underside of a foodplant leaf.

The species is found in northern New South Wales, and Queensland up as far as Cape York.