Taractrocera papyria

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Taractrocera papyria
Taractrocera papyria (ento-csiro-au).jpg
Taractrocera papyria.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Taractrocera
Species:
T. papyria
Binomial name
Taractrocera papyria
(Boisduval, [1832])
Synonyms
  • Hesperia papyriaBoisduval, 1832
  • Taractrocera celaenoCox, 1873
  • Hesperilla fumosaGuest, 1882
  • Apaustus alixPlötz, 1884
  • Apaustus minimusMiskin, 1889
  • Ancyloxipha agrauliaHewitson, 1868

Taractrocera papyria, the white-banded grass-dart, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

The wingspan is about 30 mm.

The Western Australian subspecies lacks the white markings of the nominate species.

The larvae feed on Phragmites australis , Microlaena stipoides , Imperata cylindrica , Echinopogon caespitosus , Cynodon dactylon , Austrostipa scabra , Austrodanthonia , Carex gaudichaudiana , Paspalum dilatatum , Oryza sativa , Pennisetum clandestinum , Ehrharta longiflora , Ehrharta calycina and Poa species. It constructs a shelter in which pupation takes place.

Subspecies