Pollanisus apicalis (Walker, 1854)
(previously known as Procris apicalis)
PROCRIDINAE,   ZYGAENIDAE,   ZYGAENOIDEA
  
Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

Pollanisus apicalis
(Photo : courtesy of Donald Hobern, Aranda, Australian Capital Territory)

This caterpillar is hairy and basically pale green, but has a white dorsal band, and dorsolateral and lateral rows of dark outlined rings. The caterpillar has been found feeding on

  • Hoary Guinea Flower ( Hibbertia obtusifolia, DILLENIACEAE ).

    The adult moth has metallic dark green forewings, and grey hindwings. The female has a yellow tuft on her tail. The moths have a wingspan of about 2 cms.

    Pollanisus apicalis
    drawing by Arthur G. Butler, listed as Procris apicalis,

    Illustrations of typical specimens of Lepidoptera Heterocera in the collection of the British Museum,
    Part 1 (1877), Plate VI, fig. 2,
    image courtesy of Biodiversity Heritage Library, digitized by Gerstein Library, University of Toronto.

    The species has been found in:

  • Queensland,
  • New South Wales,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • Victoria,
  • Tasmania, and
  • South Australia.


    Further Reading:

    Gerhard M. Tarmann,
    Zygaenid moths of Australia,
    CSIRO Publishing 2004, pp. 38-39,42, 59, 65, 67, 70, 76, 81-84, 111-112, 120, 128, pls. 9, 10, 58, 59, 60, 64.

    Francis Walker,
    Catalogue of Lepidoptera Heterocera,
    List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum,
    Part 1 (1854), p. 111, No. 14.


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    (updated 15 June 2009, 13 January 2014, 26 November 2015, 5 September 2020)