Dark Shield-skipper Signeta tymbophora
Wingspan: 27 - 28mm
Sighted Claire Cottage: Jan - Feb
Distribution: Fragmented range - Bunya Mountains SE QLD to North Brother Mountain (nr Laurieton) NSW (occurring only on Great Dividing Range), however from Gosford, NSW to Mt Dromedary near Narooma, NSW (occurring only in coastal areas).
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
Similar species: Bright Shield-skipper Signeta flammeata
Wingspan: 27 - 28mm
Sighted Claire Cottage: Jan - Feb
Distribution: Fragmented range - Bunya Mountains SE QLD to North Brother Mountain (nr Laurieton) NSW (occurring only on Great Dividing Range), however from Gosford, NSW to Mt Dromedary near Narooma, NSW (occurring only in coastal areas).
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
Similar species: Bright Shield-skipper Signeta flammeata
Dark Shield-skipper (Signeta tymbophora) male, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 11 Feb 2021, 3.07 pm
Dark Shield-skipper (Signeta tymbophora) male, Claire Cottage, Dorrigo, 2 Feb 2016, 8.57 am
7 Jan 2018, 11.00 am. @ Claire Cottage. Lacking any small white spots we believe this is a male Dark Shield-Skipper (Signeta tymbophora). (Michael Braby confirms in Butterflies of Australia (2000) males sometimes lack the white subapical spot).
Claire Cottage Dorrigo NSW, 11 Feb 2021
Dark Shield-skipper (Signeta tymbophora) male 13/02/2016
Dark Shield-skipper Signeta tymbophora
Wingspan: 27 - 28mm
Distribution: Fragmented range - Bunya Mountains SE QLD to North Brother Mountain (nr Laurieton) NSW (occurring only on Great Dividing Range), however from Gosford, NSW to Mt Dromedary near Narooma, NSW (occurring only in coastal areas).
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
Similar species: Bright Shield-skipper Signeta flammeata
Butterfly Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval Food Plants:
Habitat where found at Claire Cottage: WT & S at beginning of Coramba Mountain RoadT Rainforest edge
Flight habit: Thought to be throughout the day.
The Dark=Shield-skipper's only wing markings are a few small white spots. It is uncommon and confined to subtropical and warm temperate rainforests at higher altitudes on the Great Dividing Range in Nth NSW & Sth QLD. Where it is found from Gosford south to Narooma it is coastal.
Having now sighted it at Claire Cottage during three summers we feel reasonably sure that it is breeding here.
Last warm season sighting - Dorrigo Plateau: 20/02/21
Wingspan: 27 - 28mm
Distribution: Fragmented range - Bunya Mountains SE QLD to North Brother Mountain (nr Laurieton) NSW (occurring only on Great Dividing Range), however from Gosford, NSW to Mt Dromedary near Narooma, NSW (occurring only in coastal areas).
Status Claire Cottage: uncommon
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be uncommon
Similar species: Bright Shield-skipper Signeta flammeata
Butterfly Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: Jan 2018 (m), Feb 2016 (m), 2021 (m);
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: None to date
Larva Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: None to date
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: None to date
Larval Food Plants:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: CYPERACEAE - Gahnia sieberiana, POACEAE: Entolasia marginata (pictured above),
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: (as for Claire Cottage)
- ELSEWHERE: CYPERACEAE - Carex hubbardii (recorded growing 13k west of Coffs Harbour at start of Coramba Mountain Road).
Habitat where found at Claire Cottage: WT & S at beginning of Coramba Mountain RoadT Rainforest edge
Flight habit: Thought to be throughout the day.
The Dark=Shield-skipper's only wing markings are a few small white spots. It is uncommon and confined to subtropical and warm temperate rainforests at higher altitudes on the Great Dividing Range in Nth NSW & Sth QLD. Where it is found from Gosford south to Narooma it is coastal.
Having now sighted it at Claire Cottage during three summers we feel reasonably sure that it is breeding here.
Last warm season sighting - Dorrigo Plateau: 20/02/21