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Marrawah Skipper (Hesperilla munionga larana)

The Marrawah Skipper is a skipper butterfly whose larana subspecies occurs on Tasmania’s north-west coast. Its larvae use sedges, including Carex appressa, for food and shelter.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

Full-fed larvae and pupae were found at Marrawah in January; adults emerged from 31 January to 8 February.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Larval and adult records: Full-fed larvae and pupae were found at Marrawah in January; adults emerged from 31 January to 8 February.

Identification: Appearance

Adults are dark brown with yellow patches on the forewings and a yellow patch on each hindwing; the wingspan is about 3 cm. The underside of the hindwings is yellow with black markings.

Adults are dark brown with yellow patches on the forewings and a yellow patch on each hindwing; the wingspan is about 3 cm. The underside of the hindwings is yellow with black markings.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The larana subspecies occurs on Tasmania’s north-west coast. New locations have been found around Woolnorth, extending its known range farther north-west.

The larana subspecies occurs on Tasmania’s north-west coast. New locations have been found around Woolnorth, extending its known range farther north-west.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

Larvae have been found in shelters among coarse, tufted Carex, and the species feeds on sedges. It also occurs in a west-coast landscape that includes coastal heathland and wetlands.

Larvae have been found in shelters among coarse, tufted Carex, and the species feeds on sedges. It also occurs in a west-coast landscape that includes coastal heathland and wetlands.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Caterpillars feed on sedges, including Carex appressa, Carex longebrachiata and Scirpus polystachyus. Adult diet is not described in the sources.

Caterpillars feed on sedges, including Carex appressa, Carex longebrachiata and Scirpus polystachyus. Adult diet is not described in the sources.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Eggs are laid singly on the underside of foodplant leaves. At Marrawah, full-fed larvae and pupae were found in January, and adults emerged between 31 January and 8 February.

Eggs are laid singly on the underside of foodplant leaves. At Marrawah, full-fed larvae and pupae were found in January, and adults emerged between 31 January and 8 February.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Caterpillars rest by day in shelters made by joining leaves of their foodplant with silk, and feed at night. Shelters have been recorded in Carex appressa.

Caterpillars rest by day in shelters made by joining leaves of their foodplant with silk, and feed at night. Shelters have been recorded in Carex appressa.

Threats: Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation, inappropriate fire regimes, invasive species and climate change were identified as prevalent threats across the butterflies assessed, including this skipper in the assessment.

Habitat loss and fragmentation, inappropriate fire regimes, invasive species and climate change were identified as prevalent threats across the butterflies assessed, including this skipper in the assessment.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or fragmenting habitat could remove or degrade sedges used as larval foodplants and shelter. Inappropriate fire regimes were also identified as a prevalent threat among the butterflies assessed.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Heath

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It also occurs in a west-coast landscape that includes coastal heathland and wetlands.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: TAS.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Wetland or sedgeland

It also occurs in a west-coast landscape that includes coastal heathland and wetlands.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: TAS.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations: Water-associated habitat mentioned in profile

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It also occurs in a west-coast landscape that includes coastal heathland and wetlands.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: TAS.

Habitat use: general

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources