Tall, pink flowered, multi-stemmed
and multi-branched spear-grass
Austrostipa platychaeta,
larva foodplant for the southern race.

The grass is about a metre high.

Flower head of
Austrostipa platychaeta

Multi-stemmed leaf base of
Austrostipa acrociliata

Flower head of
Austrostipa acrociliata

Multi-stemmed and multi-branched Austrostipa elegantissima
with large white spidery flower plumes

Eggs of the southern race, laid on alternate days on the leaf upperside within the leaf axil of Austrostipa platychaeta

Egg of the southern race

Egg of the northern race

Closeup of northern race egg near hatching showing the finer ridge details

First instar in process of constructing its first shelter

Closeup of final instar head, showing different colour forms

Final larva shelter of the northern race,
on Enteropogon acicularis.
The shelter opening is from beneath.

Late instar larva shelter and eat marks of the northern race, on E. acicularis.
A two leaved shelter is present on lower left side, opening from the bottom.

Front view of operculum (anterior end of pupa). Ventral side is at bottom of photo.
The bottom part of this specimen is slightly deformed and still has part of the larva head capsule attached.