Pelopidas agna (Moore, 1866)
(one synonym: Hesperias agna)
Common Swift
 HESPERIINAE ,  HESPERIIDAE

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

(updated 5 May 2008)

Pelopidas agna
(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis, Sydney)

This Caterpillar is green, with green dots, and two yellow dorsolateral lines. The head is green with two brown stripes. It feeds on various grasses ( POACEAE ) such as :

  • Ischaemum australe,
  • Russell River Grass ( Paspalum paniculatum ),
  • Rice ( Oryza sativa ), and
  • Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ).

    Pelopidas agna
    (Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

    The adult butterfly is dark brown with a series of white spots on each fore wing. The wing span is about 3 cms.

    Pelopidas agna
    underside
    (Specimen: courtesy of The Australian Museum)

    Various sub-species are found all over south-east Asia, from Sri-Lanka to the Solomons, including dingo along the Northern Territory and Queensland coasts of Australia.

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby,
    Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, pp. 240-241.

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