Orange Alpine Xenica

Appearance

The upper surfaces of the wings of the adult butterflies are brown with yellow patches. The upper sides of each of the forewings each have an eyespot near the wing tip, and the hind wings have a similar one near the tornus. In the females, the forewing eyespots are double. Underneath, the wings are much the same but paler, and the hindwings each have an extra eye spot. The butterflies have a wing span of about 30mm.
Eggs are green and spherical and laid singly on leaves of a foodplant.

Distribution

Alpine areas of Victoria and NSW in south eastern Australia

Status

Uncommon

Habitat

Open woods with poace