Pollanisus yugambeh, Mollet & Tarmann, 2023

Mollet, Bernard & Tarmann, Gerhard M., 2023, Revision of the genus Pollanisus Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae: Procridinae), Zootaxa 5281 (1), pp. 1-72 : 30-31

Pollanisus yugambeh sp. n.

Materiel examined ( Table 7). Larvae collected on Pipturus argenteus (Urticaceae) .

Holotype: 1 ♁ (772) ( Figs 90, 93 ), Queensland. N Springbrook, Lower Blechmont N, 28°02′11.9′′S, 153°15′08.6′′E, 350 m, e. l., 17.XI.2009, B. Mollet & G. Tarmann leg. ( BMC).

Paratypes: 1 ♀ (1370) ( Figs 92, 95 ), 2 ♁, same data as holotype but day flying, 15.II.2013, S. & B. Mollet leg. ( BMC) ; New South Wales. 1 ♁ (769) ( Figs 91, 94 ), 2 ♁, 2 ♀, 23 km E Kyogle, Road to Kunghur , 28°31′11.8′′S, 153°09′36.4′′E, 320 m, e. l., 17.XI.2009, B. Mollet & G. Tarmann leg. ( BMC) ; 2 ♁, 3 ♀, Road to Mt Warning , 28°23′3.7′′S, 153°18′43.5′′E, 102 m, e. l., 18.II.2013, S. & B. Mollet leg. ( BMC) .

Additional paratypes (head ratios examined, but not included in Table 7). Queensland. 1 ♀, N Springbrook, Lower Blechmont N, 28°02’11.9’’S, 153°15’08.6’’E, 350 m, day flying, 15.II.2013, S. & B. Mollet leg. ( BMC) ; New South Wales. 1 ♁, 23 km E Kyogle, Road to Kunghur , 28°31’11.8’’S, 153°09’36.4’’E, 320 m, e. l., 17.XI.2009, B. Mollet & G. Tarmann leg. ( BMC) .

Discussion and differential diagnosis. So far, Pollanisus yugambeh sp. n. is,with P. acharon , the only Pollanisus whose larvae feed on Pipturus argenteus ( Fig. 102 ). The two species cannot be confused. Pollanisus acharon has the collar and the upperside of the abdomen green, while P. yugambeh sp. n. is coppery on these body parts. The habitus of their larvae is different ( Figs 103–105 ). P. contrastus has the head ratio data and habitus similar to P. yugambeh , but the latter is smaller in size with narrower forewing and their larval host-plants belong to different families. The larvae of P. contrastus and P. yugambeh sp. n. do not reciprocally feed the host-plant of the other species (rearing observation BM).

P. yugambeh has the head ratio data and habitus similar to P. kalliesi (without ochreous spots), but the latter is localized at high altitude on Barringon Tops in New South Wales.

Pollanisus yugambeh sp. n. has a similar habitus to P. horakae sp. n., but the latter has head ratios slightly different, it is localized in Northern Queensland and uses another larval host-plant species.

The other Pollanisus species with similar habitus have different head ratio data.

Differences in habitus and in larval host-plant families are strong taxonomic characters in Pollanisus and there is no doubt of specific difference. We therefore describe this species as new.

Description. Male holotype. Length of body: 5 mm; length of forewing: 6.7 mm; breadth: 2.4 mm; length of hindwing: 4.9 mm; breadth: 2.4 mm; length of antenna: 4.7 mm; distance between compound eyes in frontal view, 1.76 x the breadth of compound eye and 1.12 x the height; compound eye black almost circular in lateral view; ocellus slightly ovoid; chaetosemata of triangular shape, long and narrow occupying all the space between the dorsal margin of the compound eye and the ocellus. Antenna: brown with satin sheen, segments 1 to 24 bipectinate, 25 to 35 biserrate, pectinations of maximum length at segment 10, about 4.8x longer than breadth of shaft in dorsal view. Body: frons brown with greenish blue metallic sheen, vertex brown, edging of blue metallic scales bordering the compound eyes, proboscis yellow, long porrect labial palps brown; patagia, proximal part of tegulae and thorax covered with coppery metallic scales; thorax brown dorsally with a strong blue metallic sheen ventrally; abdomen brown on segments 1, from segment 2 to distal part golden coppery metallic sheen dorsally, brown ventrally. Forewing: brown with satin sheen on upperside, light brown on underside. Hindwing: brown with slightly translucent area medially, underside with shiny blue scales anteriad of medial stem and at anal angle in male. Legs and coxae: coxa brown with strong green metallic sheen, legs brown, femur covered with green metallic scales.

Female paratype. Length of body: 5 mm; length of forewing: 6.4 mm; breadth: 2.4 mm; length of hindwing: 4.7 mm; breadth: 2.4 mm; length of antenna: 4.2 mm; distance between compound eyes in frontal view, 2.04 x the breadth of compound eye and 1.27 x the height; compound eye black almost circular in lateral view; ocellus slightly ovoid; chaetosemata rounded with narrow anterior extension occupying all the space between compound eye and ocellus. Antenna, brown with satin sheen, segments 1 to 33 biserrate, pointed distally. Body, forewing, hindwing, legs and coxae (as male description above). Presence of an abdominal yellow hairtuft distally in female.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 35 ). Valva with slightly rounded apex, distally straight dorsally, ventral margin straight. Phallus nearly x4 longer than broad, cylindrical, slightly upcurved, cornutus as long as phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 113 ). Ductus bursae short and translucent, leading into a praebursa with central sclerotization with two teeth.

Phenology and bionomics. Specimens were collected as eggs or in larval stages ( Figs 103–105 ) on Pipturus argenteus ( Fig. 102 ). Males and females are day flying, staying around their larval host-plant.

Larvae of P. yugambeh are different of those of P. acharon , but cannot be distinguished from those of many other Pollanisus species.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the Yugambeh Aboriginal people living on their traditional country, the Sringbrook N. P. (Web references).

Figures

FIGURES 90–101. Pollanisus species, upperside and frontal view. 90–95. P. yugambeh sp. n.. 90, 93. Holotype male, Springbrook; 91, 94. Paratype male, Kunghur; 92, 95. Paratype female, Springbrook.96–101. P. horakae sp. n.. 96, 99. Holotype male, Paluma N. P.; 97, 100. Paratype male, Paluma N. P.; 98, 101. Paratype female, Paluma N. P.. (scale bars: 1 mm).

FIGURES 102–105. Pollanisus yugambeh sp. n.. 102. The larval host-plant Pipturus argenteus (Urticaceae). 103, 104. Larvae at the early instars. 105. Larva at last instar.

FIGURES 34–40. Male genitalia of holotypes. 34. Pollanisus jumbun sp. n. (993). 35. Pollanisus yugambeh sp. n. (772). 36. Pollanisus horakae sp. n. (1412). 37. Pollanisus worimi sp. n. (978). 38. Pollanisus kalliesi sp. n. (836). 39. Pollanisus jirrbal sp. n. (818). 40. Pollanisus nocturna sp. n. (948). (scale bar: 1 mm)

FIGURES 113–116. Female genitalia. 113. Pollanisus yugambeh sp. n. (1370). 114. Pollanisus horakae sp. n. (1445). 115. Pollanisus kalliesi sp. n. (1525). 116. Pollanisus jirrbal sp. n. (1516). (scale bar: 1 mm).