These Caterpillars are initially pale green with a black head. Later instars are green or brown with a darker markings, including a dark spot on the back of the first three abdominal segments. The head is brown with a black triangular mark, and has two pink tipped horns. The tail also has a pair of horns. The Caterpillars grow to a length of about 2.5 cms. They feed on various species of Grass ( POACEAE ). The Caterpillars feed nocturnally, hiding by day at the base of the tussock.

The pupa is green or brown with ridges and spikes, some edged in cream. It is is suspended by a cremaster from a foodplant stem or an object near the foodplant. Its length is about 1.5 cms.

The wings of the adult butterflies on top are brown with yellow patches. Each fore wing has a white spot near the wingtip, and each hind wing has an eyespot. Underneath, the fore wings are similar, but the hind wings are pale brown with thin wavy dark brown lines. The butterflies have a wing span of about 4 cms.

The eggs are pale geen and spherical. They are laid singly on a foodplant.

The species occurs in the mountains of New South Wales and Victoria, where two races have been recognised :

angela.

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Further reading :

Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 2, pp. 517-518.

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