Butterfly of the Month - February 2025

The Green Awl (Hasora discolora) is a beautiful little butterfly which distinguishes itself from other awls occurring in Brisbane by colour alone. With a wingspan of 42mm for the male and 43mm for the female, the awl is very similar in size to its local cousins.

The wings’ underside create the difference with a dark base colour which is suffused with a shimmering somewhat iridescent blueish-greenish sheen. Forewing and hind wing are marked by a wide creamy band and a narrow turquoise line at the outer edge of the hindwing as well as  a similar line on the forewing, but located between edge and creamy band.

The upper wing side is dominated by dark brown scales and exhibits basal hairs with a tinge a green, similar to the hairs on the butterfly’s thorax and head.

Like with many other members of the Hesperiidae family, genders are difficult to distinguish unless genitalia are examined. Unlike other butterflies, the males of this species don’t carry any sex scales.

The Green Awl starts its life cycle as a white rounded egg not more than 1mm across,  with vertical ribs. Once hatched, the larva builds a shelter by cutting and folding over leaves.

Larvae are pretty with dark brown or orange brown heads, their greyish ground colour crossed with white lines, and black spots bordered by yellow in usually three to four segments. Setae (hair-like structures) complete the image.

Pupation happens in the before mentioned shelter. The pupa is pale green and gradually turns to a light yellowish colour before the metamorphosis is complete. The surface is covered with a white powdery substance.

The butterfly occurs usually at the edge of rainforest where its native host plant Burny Bean (Mucuna gigantea) grows.

Images: CM – Cliff Meyer; FMcG – Frank McGrath; MP – Martin Purvis; WJ – Wesley Jenkinson