Butterfly of the Month - October 2024
The Dingy Grass-skipper (Timoconia peron, prev. Toxidia peron) is a common occurrence in Brisbane. The male adult butterfly has a wingspan of 29mm while the female reaches 30mm. It belongs to the large Hesperiidae family whose members are notoriously difficult to identify for the layperson.
The brown upper wing side of both genders in the adult stage shows cream-coloured markings. While the male (insert bottom right) can be identified by checking out the large black sex scale area on the forewing and also the arrow-like (almost L-shaped) cream marking, The female (bottom left) distinguishes itself through smaller markings instead of the arrow shape, and by having two comparatively broader postmedian spots. Both genders exhibit three tiny cream spots closest to the apex of the forewing. The butterfly's underside is lighter and very similar for male and female, both genders showing faint almost round markings.
The life cycle of Timoconia peron starts with an off-white egg of 1mm in diameter, laid singly on the underside of a host plant leaf (or blade of grass). The egg changes over a couple of days to show mottled red markings. It is shaped like a little dome with vertical ridges segmenting the surface.
After hatching, larvae - when not feeding - retreat into their shelter made of usually a folde grass blade to rest. The first instar colour is light, but it darkens and changes gradually to a brown tone. The head remains dark brown throughout. The shelter grows with the larva's size, and pupation happens inside.
Preferred host plants for Timoconia peron are a range of native grasses belonging to the Poaceae. However, the diet also includes introduced grasses.Additionally, listed as possibly serving as host plants in SEQ are Dianella spp and Gahnia spp.
Males are known to hilltop in search of a mating partner. The butterfly is common in open eucalypt forests.
Images: CM-Cliff Meyer; MP-Martin Purvis, purvision.com; RF+SH-Ross Field and Simon Hinkley, Victoria Museum CC BY; WJ-Wesley Jenkinson
