Pollanisus empyrea
Encyclopedia
Pollanisus empyrea is a moth
of the Zygaenidae
family. It is endemic to the temperate parts of Western Australia
.
The length of the forewings is 8-8.5 mm for males and females. It is probably at least partly bivoltine since adults have been found on wing in late summer and late autumn.
The head, thorax, forewing upperside and parts of the forewing and hindwing underside are covered with shiny (almost metallic) golden, greenish-golden or coppery-golden scales. There is also a rare colour variation with bluish green parts. This variation was originally described as a distinct species.
The larvae probably feed on Hibbertia
species.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Zygaenidae
Zygaenidae
The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. There are about 1000 species. Various species are commonly known as Burnet or Forester moths, often qualified by the number of spots,...
family. It is endemic to the temperate parts of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
The length of the forewings is 8-8.5 mm for males and females. It is probably at least partly bivoltine since adults have been found on wing in late summer and late autumn.
The head, thorax, forewing upperside and parts of the forewing and hindwing underside are covered with shiny (almost metallic) golden, greenish-golden or coppery-golden scales. There is also a rare colour variation with bluish green parts. This variation was originally described as a distinct species.
The larvae probably feed on Hibbertia
Hibbertia
Hibbertia, or Guinea flower, is a genus of trees, shrubs, trailing shrubs and climbers of the family Dilleniaceae. The five-petalled flowers of all species are varying shades of yellow, with the exception of H. stellaris, H. miniata and H. selkii, a recently named species from the Stirling...
species.