Tasmanian Chaostola Skipper

Habitat

• ‘Habitat’ refers to both known habitat for the species (i.e. in or near habitat where the species has been recorded) and potential habitat (i.e. areas of habitat with appropriate characteristics for the species and within the species potential range which have not yet been adequately surveyed).
• If in doubt about whether a site represents potential habitat for this species, contact the Threatened Species Section for further advice.
• The known range of the Chaostola Skipper includes five “colonies” (records) in the east and southeast in mainly near-coastal lowlands. There are also some historical records, and possibly of only adults, in the north and south of the state. The potential range of the Chaostola Skipper includes any area of habitat within the range of the food species Gahnia radula and G. microstachya (i.e. coastal northern and eastern Tasmania).
• Habitat for the Chaostola Skipper corresponds to a number of vegetation types in the NRE Bushcare Toolkit, including: 'Grassy/heathy woodland and forest', 'Heathy woodland and forest', 'Shrubby forest' (see Eucalypt bush for more infomation on managing these vegetation types), and 'Dry coastal vegetation' and 'Heath' (see Other bush types for more information on managing these vegetation types).
• Habitat characteristics for the Chaostola Skipper includes the following elements: dry lowland vegetation supporting the food plants Gahnia radula and/or G. microstachya, on relatively infertile substrates derived from sandstones, mudstones, siltstones, granites or windblown sands; the Coningham, Knocklofty and Peter Murrell Reserve colonies occur in a mosaic of heathland, heathy woodland and dry Eucalyptus amygdalina and E. tenuiramis forests on sandstone; the Little Swanport colony occurs in dry sedgy/grassy woodland and forest dominated by Acacia mearnsii, and Eucalyptus globulus forest on sandstone and dolerite slopes.

What to avoid

• Clearing of habitat for urban development, agriculture and forestry
• Too-frequent burning of Gahnia habitat

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• Adults of the Chaostola Skipper can be surveyed during the species' flight period (October to December) on warm sunny days with little or no wind.
• Surveys for the distinctive larval shelter of this species can be carried out at any time of the year due to the long duration of the larval stage (up to 20 months). Detection of the distinctive larval shelters is a relatively simple exercise in close-to-the-ground hand searching of clumps of Gahnia.

• In order to recognise the species' habitat if it occurs on your property, learn to identify the two food plants of the Chaostola Skipper (G. radula and G. microstachya). If in doubt, seek expert assistance with identification.
• In order to recognise the species if it occurs on your property, learn to identify the adult Chaostola Skipper and the species' distinctive larval shelter. If in doubt, seek expert assistance with identification.
• If you live or work in the area where the species occurs (see distribution map, above), look out for and record any observations of the species. All records of this species can provide important information on distribution and abundance.
• If you are interested in knowing for certain whether the species occurs on your land, organise a formal survey. You may need to employ an ecological consultant to do this. Your local Bushcare or Field Naturalist club may be able to assist you with a survey.
• Important! Always report any observations of the species to the NRE Natural Values Atlas, or else provide the data direct to the Threatened Species Section. Records stored on the NVA are a permanent record and are accessible to other people interested in this species.
• Consider the needs of the whole habitat. Preserving a threatened species' habitat is the best way to manage both the species and the environment in which it lives.
• Habitat for the Chaostola Skipper corresponds to a number of vegetation types in the NRE Bushcare Toolkit, including: 'Grassy/heathy woodland and forest', 'Heathy woodland and forest', 'Shrubby forest' (see Eucalypt bush​ for more infomation on managing these vegetation types), and 'Dry coastal vegetation' and 'Heath' (see Other bush types for more information on managing these vegetation types).
• For long-term protection of populations on private land – consider protection of habitat through a vegetation management agreement or conservation covenant.

• ​Urbanisation is the major cause of local extinctions of the Tasmanian Chaostola Skipper. Roadside and fenceline stands of Gahnia radula indicate that the plant was once more widely distributed in south-eastern Tasmania, and many of these areas are now largely subdivided into small residential blocks. Agricultural development has also contributed to a decline in the extent and quality of habitat.
• Note that understorey modification alone is sufficient to render habitat unsuitable for this species.
• To prevent loss of habitat and local exinction of colonies of the Chaostola Skipper - avoid clearing and/or fragmentation of remaining habitat.

• To prevent degradation of habitat - manage areas of remaining habitat to maintain healthy stands of the food plants G. radula and G. microstachya.

• ​The Chaostola Skipper is most abundant a few years following fire, and regrowth of Gahnia species is encouraged by fire. However, too frequent burning can remove both butterfly and food plant.
• In the absence of fire, scrub vegetation appears to displace open vegetation supporting Gahnia microstachya and G. Radula, as has occurred in Freycinet National Park and in Peter Murrell Reserve, respectively.
• To preserve habitat quality - conduct ecological and fuel reduction burns in areas of habitat at a suitable frequency to maintain open vegetation supporting Gahnia microstachya and G. radula.
• To allow for recolonisation of the Chaostola Skipper after burning - conduct ecological and fuel reduction burns in a mosaic to allow for the recolonisation from neighbouring areas.
• For more information on fire management of Chaostola Skipper habitat, contact the Threatened Species Section.

• ​Agricultural development has contributed to a decline in the extent and quality of habitat.
• Note that understorey modification alone is sufficient to render habitat unsuitable for this species.
• To prevent loss of habitat and local extinction of colonies of the Chaostola Skipper - avoid clearing and/or fragmentation of remaining habitat.

• ​Urbanisation is the major cause of local extinctions of the Chaostola Skipper. Roadside and fenceline stands of Gahnia radula indicate that the plant was once more widely distributed in south-eastern Tasmania, and many of these areas are now largely subdivided into small residential blocks.
• Note that understorey modification alone is sufficient to render habitat unsuitable for this species.
• To prevent loss of habitat and local extinction of colonies of the Chaostola Skipper - avoid clearing and/or fragmentation of remaining habitat.

​Link to Australian Government's Conservation Advice​