Native and introduced grasses including *Brachypodium distachyon (false brome), *Bromus spp (brome), *Cynodon dactylon (couch), *Ehrharta erecta (panic veldt grass), *E. longiflora (annual veldt grass), Enteropogon acicularis (branching umbrella grass or curly windmill grass), E. ramosus (tussock umbrella grass or windmill grass), Imperata cylindrica (blady or kunai grass), *Lolium spp (ryegrass), *Panicum sp, *Paspalum vaginatum (salt-water couch), *Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu), *Piptatherum miliaceum (rice millet), Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) (Poaceae); also rarely Dianella sp (flax lilies) (Liliaceae) and the soft leaved Cyperus vaginatus (Stiff Flat-sedge) (Cyperaceae). The larvae eat the leaves of the grasses and lillies, or in the case of the flat-sedge, the leaf-like bracts.

Large, domal or hemispherical shaped, base flat circular, pale yellow when newly laid, but after 2 days if fertile the eggs acquire a ragged red lateral ring and a similarly coloured micropylar area. Eggs turn white near hatching. The small micropylar area on top of the egg is depressed. The base is rimmed. Laid singly on the leaves of the foodplant. Eggs start to hatch after 7 days in early summer. The egg shell is eaten by the larva after its emergence.

About 23 mm long.

11-13 mm long.

It flies during the warmer months, from late September to early May. There are continuous broods over the warmer months, which can be completed within 11 weeks in summer. It overwinters as larvae.

In South Australia subspecies hypochlorus is mainly found in the South Mt Lofty Ranges, but there are other odd records in the eastern temperate parts of the agricultural belt. It has yet to be found on Eyre Peninsula, southern Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island or the extreme southern parts of the Lower Southeast Region. It may have a wider distribution than presently known as the skipper is small (bee size) and is easily overlooked. Subspecies sothis is reported to occur at Barmera and Berri in the Riverland of SA, and also at nearby Broken Hill in NSW. Another subspecies of the skipper occurs in northwest Australia. Other subspecies occur in the northern tropical island areas of the Australian Faunal Region.

The skipper is found in areas where its grass foodplants remain in a soft green condition throughout the year. It is particularly fond of urban areas where lawn grass occurs in a rank condition, along open damp grassy creek courses, and also in irrigation areas.

It is often locally common in urban Adelaide and in surrounding areas where its habitat has not been interfered with, but outside of the South Mt Lofty Ranges area it is very rare.

In the natural environment the main threat is drought and the effects of agricultural disturbances. In the urban environment, well manicured lawns and gardens will keep skipper numbers down, as will the use of toxic sprays and herbicides, especially in irrigated areas. The gradual incursion of subspecies sothis into South Australia may pose a threat to the integrity of subspecies hypochlorus.

None required at present, although the incursion by subspecies sothis presents an interesting dilemma as to whether subspecies hypochlorus should be protected by introducing it to Kangaroo Island and southern Eyre Peninsula.