Northern Silver Ochre - Trapezites maheta

Family HESPERIIDAE 

This page contains information and pictures about Maheta Skipper Butterflies in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia. They also known as Maheta Skipper.
 
Body length 20mm 
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We found this butterfly in Macgregor bushland, Daisy Hills, Karawatha Forest and Alexandra Hill during summer. The butterfly is orange-brown in colour, with white patches on wings bottom side.
 
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In the above pictures, the butterfly was resting on a Black-boy plant flower stem, guarding his territory.
 
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The butterfly becomes active early September. From different pictures that I took, this skipper butterfly seems like to rest on dry brown plants.
 
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Their Caterpillars are pinkish green in colour, with dark lines along the body. They feed on various type of Mat-rush (XANTHORRHOEACEAE).
 
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Reference:
1. Trapezites maheta - Australian Caterpillars, Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2005.
2. Trapezites maheta - Australian Insect Common Names, CSIRO 2005. 
3. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia - Michael F Braby, Australian National University, CSIRO 2004, p44. 
 

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Last updated: June 20, 2010.