Montane Sedge-Skipper

Scientific Name: Hesperilla perornata

Family of Butterflies: Hesperiidae (skippers)

Other Common Names: Mountain Spotted Skipper, Mountain Painted Skipper

Wingspan: 28mm (male), 35mm (female)

Local Records: The few only record from our region is a recent record from near Trentham. There are very few records in either iNaturalist or Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution outside our region: There are a few records from around Blackwood, just south of our region and from near Melbourne. Braby (2016) shows the distribution stretching from south-west Victoria through the high country to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

Larval Host Plants: Red-fruited Saw Sedge Gahnia sieberiana

Larval association with ants: None

Adult Flight Times in Victoria: October – December with some late season activity in March

Conservation Status:

• The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: Least Concern

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Not listed

• Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, Threatened List: Not Listed

Other Notes: Uncommon in our region. Only likely to be found at higher elevation in the most southern parts around Trentham and Wombat Forest.

References and further reading:
Atlas of Living Australia – Hesperilla perornata, Montane Sedge-Skipper.
INaturalist – Hesperilla perornata, Montane Sedge-Skipper
Braby, Michael F., Second edition 2016. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing.
Field, Ross P., 2013. Butterflies: Identification and Life History. Museum Victoria.