Prophylactis crassifoliallax Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.3.3. Prophylactis crassifoliallax Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 11 A, B View Figure 11 , 12 M View Figure 12 , 13 B View Figure 13 , 15 C, S 1 M, S 4 B View Figure 15

Description.

Metallic grey-beige heliozelids (Fig. 11 A, B View Figure 11 ). Wingspan 6-7 mm (6.4 ± 0.4 mm, n = 8) in females and 5.5-6.5 mm (6.0 ± 0.4 mm, n = 7) in males. — Head: Metallic dark beige. Eyes dark red. — Thorax: Metallic grey dorsally, metathorax darker. — Forewings: Dorsal surface metallic grey with slight silver, gold and violet sheen; ventral surface brown with slight blue tinge in some light. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface metallic light grey-beige; ventral surface light silver-grey; males without androconial brush. — Abdomen: Metallic grey. In females, abdomen modified to form a simple linear pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 M View Figure 12 , S 1 M). — Female genitalia (Fig. 13 B View Figure 13 ). — Male genitalia (Fig. 15 C View Figure 15 ). Tegumen with narrowly pointed posterior angle, edge weakly concave medially; uncus semicircular, about 1 / 3 of tegumen width. Pectinifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten with 14 long sensilla. Transtilla medial projection hood-like, lateral arms forming sharp hook pointing to valva. Phallus simple, not expanding or narrowing at either end; phallocrypt with a pair of subapical spines pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

Prophylactis crassifoliallax sp. nov. is one of three species of Prophylactis found associated with B. crassifolia . Male P. crassifoliallax sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. binbin sp. nov. by the absence of the ochre patch of androconial scales on the wing, in females by the shape of the pollinator cleft and in both males and females by the ochre tinge of the ventral side of both wings. Female and male P. crassifoliallax sp. nov. can be distinguished from the undescribed non-pollinator group heliozelid on B. crassifolia by their smaller size and in females by the presence of the pollen-collecting structure on the abdomen.

Etymology.

The species name is a combination of its hostplant species name “ crassifolia ” and the suffix “ - allax ”.

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis crassifoliallax sp. nov. has been found in the Stirling Ranges, around Ravensthorpe and in Fitzgerald River NP (Fig. S 4 B), early in the flowering period of its suspected hostplant, Boronia crassifolia , between mid-August and mid-September. Boronia crassifolia is widely distributed, grows on sand and sandy loam from around Mt Lesueur, and from the hills east of Perth to the Stirling Ranges, sub-coastally to Twilight Cove in Nuytsland Nature Park ( Duretto et al. 2013).

Along with B. octandra , B. crassifolia is one of only two Boronia species to be associated with two Prophylactis pollinators. Further discussion of distribution and biology can be found in the description of P. binbin sp. nov.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia crassifolia . — Holotype: ♀, ( MMP 004318 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 11 B View Figure 11 ) “ 26 August 2015, - 33.95028 ° 119.98306 °, Cave Point Carpark , Fitzgerald River NP, WA, DA Young ” | “ On Boronia crassifolia ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis crassifoliallax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 004318 ” | ( WAM) . — Paratypes (3 ♀♀, 13 ♂♂): Same data as holotype except 14 / 08 / 2015 (1 ♀, 2 ♂♂); same data as holotype except 24 / 08 / 2015 (1 ♀ MMP 005425 in molecular phylogeny; 7 ♂♂, MMP 005424 in molecular phylogeny, genitalia slide AK 904); same data as holotype except 03 / 09 / 2015 (2 ♂♂); - 34.49194 ° 118.43056 °, Kojaneerup Springs Rd, Stirling Range NP, 16 / 09 / 2015, DA Young (1 ♀, 2 ♂♂); Mabinup Track, Stirling Range NP, 21 / 09 / 2015, DA Young (1 ♂, MMP 004261 in molecular phylogeny, genitalia slide AK 908).