Introduction
There are only 2 Tisiphone species – abeona and helena, both of which are endemic to Australia. The adults are distinctly marked with broad bands across the forewings and red or orange-ringed ocelli on the hindwings, so cannot be mistaken for any other species.
Tisiphone abeona is found in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Canberra and South Australia. There are 8 named subspecies.
Habitats
This species inhabits glades and clearings in open woodland habitats at elevations between about 50-1200m according to locality.
Life Cycle
The egg is bright green and globular. It is laid singly on grasses at the base of a tussock. The larva is bright emerald green with a broad suffused red stripe along the back. It feeds in the evening on swordgrass Gahnia ( Cyperaceae ), and hides by day at the base of the plant in a head-downwards position. The chrysalis is bright green with a narrow yellow line along the inner margin of the wing cases. It is suspended by the cremaster from a blade of swordgrass.
Adult Behaviour
The adults have a slow lazy flight and bask with wings partly or fully outspread on low herbage.