Pollanisus nielseni, Tarmann, 2004

Mollet, Bernard & Tarmann, Gerhard M., 2023, Revision of the genus Pollanisus Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae: Procridinae), Zootaxa 5281 (1), pp. 1-72 : 58-61

Pollanisus nielseni

Published data ( Tarmann 2004).

Material examined ( Table 14), all from Western Australia. 1 ♁ (1531) ( Figs 196, 197 ), 7 ♁, N. Lancelin, Wedge Island , 30°49′04.2″S, 115°14′15.6″E, 80 m, 10/ 11.IX.2010, S. & B. Mollet leg. ( BMC) .

Discussion and differential diagnosis. See the above comparison with Pollanisus cupreus , P. amethystina and P. empyrea .

Phenology and bionomics. Pollanisus nielseni ( Figs 204, 205 ) is only active in sunny weather or when it is disturbed.

P. nielseni occurs in scattered localities ( Tarmann 2004).At Wedge Island ( Fig. 203 ), its type locality, the habitat is a forest of low bushes close to coastal sand dunes. However in this habitat P. nielseni and P. cupreus are syntopic and synchronous. The assumed larval host plant is Hibbertia spicata ( Tarmann 2004) . From collected females, rearing was possible on H. spicata and H. subvaginata . Eggs are light cream to yellowish. During rearing the larvae could be moved easily from H. spicata to H. subvaginata and reciprocally. The larvae ( Fig. 201 ) are of variable appearance at the last instar and cannot be distinguished from those of P. cupreus (B. Mollet rearing observation).

Larvae in the last instar show a character not described so far. It is a group of four sclerotized circular dots on the dorsal part of the first thoracic segment ( Fig. 202 ), two on each side of the medial line. These dots were also observed on the available larvae of Pollanisus commoni , P. incertus , P. jirrbal sp. n., P.cupreus and P. amethystina . The position and the size of these dots needs more study to know if they are of taxonomic importance. A similar arrangement is also visible on the last instarlarva of Myrtartona rufiventris (Walker, 1854) (B. Mollet observation).

Distribution map ( Fig. 206 )

Figures

FIGURE 206. Pollanisus cupreus. P. nielseni. Hibbertia hypericoides. H. spicata.

FIGURES 193–197. Pollanisus species, upper side and frontal view. 193-195. P. cupreus. 193, 194. Lancelin; 195. Male nectaring. P. nielseni. 196, 197. Wedge Island. (scale bars: 1 mm).

FIGURES 203–205. Pollanisus nielseni. 203. Habitat at Wedge Island near Lancelin. 204. Female resting on a Hibbertia sp.. 205. Male.

FIGURES 201–202. Pollanisus nielseni. 201. Last instar larva. 202. Two pairs of sclerotized circular dots on the first thoracic segment.