Pasma tasmanicus

Pasma tasmanicus (Miskin, 1889)
Two Spotted Grass Skipper
(one synonym : Hesperilla tasmanica )
TRAPEZITINAE, HESPERIIDAE

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

(updated 30 April 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of Martin Purvis, Sydney)

The Caterpillar of this species is reddish brown, greenish between segments, with a dark mid-dorsal line. The head is a patchy brown colour. The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 2.5 cms. It feeds nocturnally on tussock grass ( Poa species, POACEAE ) such as:

Weeping Grass ( Microlaena stipoides ).

It lives by day in a shelter formed by joining several grass stems together with silk in the middle of a tussock. In due course, it pupates in this same shelter.

female
(Photo: courtesy of Museum Victoria)

The upper side of the adult butterfly is dark brown with a number of white spots on each wing. Each wing also has a narrow chequered border. Underneath, the wings are fawn with white spots of various sizes, each outlined in dark brown. The wing span is about 3 cms.

male
(Photo: courtesy of Museum Victoria)

The species is found in the mountains of :

New South Wales,

South Australia,

Tasmania, and

Victoria.