Pollanisus lithopastus, Turner, 1926

Mollet, Bernard & Tarmann, Gerhard M., 2023, Revision of the genus Pollanisus Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae: Procridinae), Zootaxa 5281 (1), pp. 1-72 : 17-18

Pollanisus lithopastus

Published data ( Tarmann 2004, Kallies & Mollet 2011) and new localities.

Material examined ( Table 3). Lectotype: 1 ♁, ( Figs 41 , 45 ), New South Wales. Ebor, 11.I.1914 ( ANIC). New South Wales. 1 ♁, Nerriga, ca. 50 km SE of Goulburn, lux, 6.XII.2008, A. Kallies & E. D. Edwards leg. ( BMC); Victoria. 1 ♁ (719) ( Figs 42 , 46 ), 2 ♁, Gembrook , Gilwell Park , 37°55′S, 145°34′E, night, 26.I.2009, P. Marriott, S. & B. Mollet leg. ( BMC); Tasmania. 1 ♁, Ridgeway near Hobart, lux, 20.I.2006, A. Kallies leg. ( BMC); 1 ♁ (722) ( Fig. 47 ), Strathblane, Far South Wilderness Lodge , lux, 22.I.2006, A. Kallies leg. ( BMC).

Discussion and differential diagnosis. Pollanisus lithopastus is very variable in its external appearance. The forewing has characteristic silvery or golden farinose surface on the upperside, although in the locality of Gembrook, 75% of a hundred specimens collected had a dark matte forewing upperside, without any silvery or golden scales.

P. lithopastus occurs syntopically with P. marriotti at its type locality. The average values of the head ratios are very close, however the frons and the compound eyes of P. marriotti are narrower which results in a smaller breadth of the head.

P. lithopastus shares the same value of head ratio data with P. angustifrons which is different in habitus ( Kallies & Mollet 2011) and cannot be confused.

Phenology and bionomics. This species was mainly collected at night ( Tarmann 2004, Kallies & Mollet 2011) or rarely in daytime and only when disturbed. The larval host-plant is unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 41–44. Pollanisus species, upperside view. 41-42.P. lithopastus. 41. Lectotype, Ebor; 42. Gembrook.43. P.marriotti. Paratype, Gembrook. 44. P. species 1. Bendora. (scale bar: 1 mm)

FIGURES 45–49. Pollanisus species, head, frontal view. 45–47. P. lithopastus. 45. Lectotype, Ebor; 46. Gembrook; 47. Strathblane. 48. P. marriotti. Paratype, Gembrook; 49. P. species 1. Bendora. (scale bar: 1 mm).