About Cephrenes trichopepla (Lower, 1908)
Cephrenes trichopepla, commonly known as the yellow palm dart, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Hesperiidae. Its confirmed distribution includes Australia, specifically the southeastern coast of New South Wales, the northern gulf and northern coast of the Northern Territory, the northern gulf and northern coast of Queensland, and the northern coast of Western Australia, as well as Papua and Papua New Guinea. It has also been recently recorded in Singapore and Sri Lanka. This species has a wingspan of approximately 40 millimeters. The larvae of Cephrenes trichopepla feed on a wide variety of palm species, and the species is considered a pest of coconut palm. Documented host food plants for the larvae include Archontophoenix alexandrae, Wodyetia bifurcata, Ptychosperma elegans, Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Livistona australis, Livistona benthamii, Livistona nitida, Livistona muelleri, Livistona mariae, Livistona drudei and Livistona decipiens.
