Nesoxenica leprea

Nesoxenica leprea (Hewitson, 1864)
(erroneously: Xenica lepera)
Leprea Brown
SATYRINAE, NYMPHALIDAE

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

(updated 17 December 2001)

(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The Caterpillars of this species are green, with a pair of yellow lateral lines. The Caterpillars live in the mountains of Tasmania, and protect themselves from the cold by snuggling into the base of tussocks of grass. They feed nocturnally on :

Delicate hook sedge ( Unicinia tenella, CYPERACEAE ).

The wings of the adult butterflies are dark brown, with two white bands across each forewing, and with white patches and dark spots on each hind wing. The undersides are similar to the upper surfaces, but more spotty.

underside
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 cms.

The species is found as two subspecies in Tasmania :

leprea, and

elia.