A revision of the Australian species of Pareromene (Lipidoptera : Pyralidae : Crambine : Diptychophorini)

Abstract

Ten Australian species of diptychophorine Crambinae, alypophanes Turner, diargema Turner, dilatella (Meyrick), leucogramma Turner, microxantha Meyrick, molydocrossa Turner, ochracealis (Walker), pogonias Turner, stenura Turner, and torva Lucas, are transferred from Diptychophora Zeller to Pareromene Osthelder. One new species, queenslandensis, is described from the Cape York Peninsula. The zoogeography of the genus in Australia is briefly discussed. The species include two distinct groups, those such as queenslandensis with clear Inner Melanesian Arc island relationships, and those such as pogonias with close affinities to species distributed in the Lesser Sunda archipelago. At least two invasions of Australia by this genus appear to have taken place at different times. Pareromene has not yet been recorded from Western Australia or the Northern Territory.