Hypocysta metirius
| Hypocysta metirius | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Hypocysta |
| Species: | H. metirius
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hypocysta metirius | |
Hypocysta metirius, the common brown ringlet, is a species of butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found along the east coast of Australia, including Queensland and New South Wales.[2]
Both male and female Hypocysta metirius have a wingspan of 31 mm.[3] They are brown and have an orange patch on the hindwing with an eyespot. The underside of the hindwing has two eyespots and commonly has a silver spot between them.[4]
They fly low to the ground and frequently stop to open their wings.[3]
Habitat
Hypocysta metirius are found in tall open-forest and at the edges of tropical, subtropical and warm temperate rainforest. In southern New South Wales they can also be found in coastal heath-woodland.[3]
Host Plants
The larvae of Hypocysta metirius feed on plants of the family Poaceae including:
- Cynodon dactylon
- Eriachne pallescens
- Alexfloydia repens[3]
References
- ^ "Hypocysta Westwood, [1851]" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ "Hypocysta metirius". lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
- ^ a b c d Braby, Michael F. (2004). The complete field guide to the butterflies of Australia. Collingwood, Vic: CSIRO Pub. ISBN 978-0-643-09027-9.
- ^ Jenkinson, Wesley (September 2015). "Life history notes on the Brown Ringlet". Metamorphosis Australia - Magazine of the Butterfly & Other Invertebrates Club (78): 16–18.