Pollanisus apicalis (Walker, 1854)

Mollet, Bernard & Tarmann, Gerhard M., 2023, Revision of the genus Pollanisus Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae: Procridinae), Zootaxa 5281 (1), pp. 1-72 : 49-50

Pollanisus apicalis

Published data ( Tarmann 2004) and additional localities.

Material examined ( Table 12). Queensland. 2 ♁, White Mts. N. P., 20.23°S, 144.47°E, 31.III to 2.IV.2000, E. D. Edwards leg. ( BMC) (1) ; Victoria. 1 ♁, Big Desert, Murrayville-Nhill Track , 3546.1′S, 14123.2′E, 30.X.2004 , A. Kallies, D. Hilton & F. Douglas leg. ( BMC); 1 ♁ (933) ( Figs 172, 175 ), Big Desert, Rainbow vic., Chinaman′s Well Tk., 3556.1′S, 14139.7′E, lux., 30.X.2004, A. Kallies, D. Hilton & F. Douglas leg. ( BMC) .

(1) In Pollanisus viridipulverulenta and P. apicalis , sharing identical head ratios, special attention should be paid to these ratios on male specimens collected north of Brisbane, to confirm their identifications. The habitus of specimens collected in White Mountains N. P. is like a very small Pollanisus viridipulverulenta with the antenna shorter with fewer segments (46 instead of 48–51 in P. viridipulverulenta ) and slightly shorter pectinations in the male. While the difference in size between males and females is very small, it is prominent in Pollanisus viridipulverulenta . In the female genitalia the row of three teeth is slightly different from the mainly two teeth in P. viridipulverulenta . However, character variability, phenology and bionomics have not been studied sufficiently to conclude that it is a new species.

Discussion and differential diagnosis. See P. viridipulverulenta above.

Phenology and bionomics. Pollanisus apicalis is mainly collected flying in daytime and rarely at night. The known host-plants are Hibbertia obtusifolia , H. virgata ( Tarmann 2004) .

Figures

FIGURES 172–179. Pollanisus species, upperside and frontal view. P. apicalis. 172, 175. Big Desert. P. nocturna sp. n.. 173, 176. Holotype, Paluma N. P.; 174, 177. Paratype, Goulburn, Nerriga. P. viridipulverulenta. 178, 179. Big Desert. Upperside. P. modestus. 178a. Holotype, Clyde Mt., NSW. (scale bars: 1 mm).