Prophylactis crenulatallax Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.2.1. Prophylactis crenulatallax Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 3 View Figure 3 , 6 G View Figure 6 , 9 G, H View Figure 9 , 12 H View Figure 12 , 14 H, S 1 H, S 3 C View Figure 14

Description.

Metallic grey-beige heliozelids (Fig. 9 G, H View Figure 9 ). Wingspan 6-7.5 mm (6.9 ± 0.5 mm, n = 12) in females and 6-7 mm (6.6 ± 0.4 mm, n = 10) in males. — Head: Brown grey. Eyes dark red. — Thorax: Grey. — Forewings: Dorsal surface metallic grey-beige with slight silver and violet sheen; ventral surface grey-brown with silver-grey scales toward the periphery. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface light brown-grey; ventral surface silver-grey; males without androconial brush. — Abdomen: Grey-beige. In females, abdomen modified to form a linear ‘ flytrap-like’ pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 H View Figure 12 , S 1 H); lips of the cleft meeting at posterior tip, widening anteriorly, possibly opening wider during pollen collection. 25-30 spines projecting at regular intervals from the rim of the cleft toward the midline to capture the pollen; outer lip also with spines. — Male genitalia (Fig. 14 H View Figure 14 ). Tegumen tapered with round posterior angles, uncus longer than wide, apical margin moderately emarginate forming two sharp posterior angles; gnathos absent. Pectinifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten with 13 long sensilla. Juxta basal part spade-shaped with a sharp end. Transtilla medial projection plate narrowing towards its end. Phallus much longer than vinculum, spathulate near the base, apex forming a well-sclerotised hook; phallocrypt with a pair of strong subapical spines pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

Prophylactis crenulatallax sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Prophylactis species, except for P. jasperae and P. crassifoliallax , by the grey, slightly violet sheen of the forewings. This species is one of four Prophylactis associated with B. crenulata , the other three being non-pollinator group species. Female P. crenulatallax sp. nov. can be distinguished from these non-pollinator group species by the presence of the pollen-collecting structure, while males can be distinguished by the grey, slightly violet sheen of the forewings.

Etymology.

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

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis crenulatallax sp. nov. was found on Boronia crenulata at multiple sites between Perth and Fitzgerald River NP (Fig. S 3 C), across the whole flowering period from mid-July to mid-October. Boronia crenulata itself is widely distributed, with several taxonomically distinct forms, generally growing in sandy soils from Shark Bay in the north to Augusta in the south-west and Norseman in the east of Western Australia ( Duretto et al. 2013). Flowers of B. crenulata are visited by a range of insects and the relationship between the plant and P. crenulatallax sp. nov. is likely to be facultative. The behaviour and ecology of the pollinator moth on B. crenulata , and the three non-pollinator group species of Prophylactis found on this plant merit additional study.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia crenulata , unless stated otherwise. — Holotype: ♀ ( MMP 005402 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 9 H View Figure 9 ). “ 3 October 2014, - 33.74100 ° 115.69483 °, Claymore Rd, 30 km WSW of Busselton , WA, DA Young ” | “ On Boronia crenulata ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis crenulatallax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 005402 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (65 ♀♀, 34 ♂♂): - 34.4345 ° 117.73567 °, Stirling Ranges NP, 23 / 09 / 2011, MF Halsey, DJ Hilton & DA Young (2 ♂♂); - 34.47683 ° 118.05817 °, 7 km S of Chester Pass, Stirling Range NP, 18 / 09 / 2013 (1 ♂); - 34.37083 ° 117.78600 °, Red Gum Springs Carpark, Stirling Range NP, 19 / 09 / 2013, DA Young (5 ♀♀, MMP 004321 in molecular phylogeny); same data except 21 / 09 / 2013 (8 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂); - 34.33917 ° 117.80967 °, Red Gum Pass Rd, Stirling Range NP, 19 / 09 / 2013, DA Young (1 ♀, 1 ♂, MMP 004332, genitalia slide AK 907); same data except 21 / 09 / 2013 (1 ♀); same data 19 / 09 / 2013, DA Young, MF Halsey (1 ♀, 2 ♂♂); same data 31 / 08 / 2014, DJ Hilton, A Kallies & DA Young (10 ♀♀); - 34.37361 ° 117.78778 °, Red Gum Pass Springs, Stirling Range NP, 11 / 10 / 2019, DA Young (4 ♂♂); - 34.37770 ° 118.06995 °, Mt Hassell (750 m), Stirling Range NP, 25 / 10 / 2013, DA Young (1 ♂); - 34.26847 ° 117.47210 °, Mt Barker - Denmark Rd, Mt Lindesay NP, 30 / 08 / 2014, DJ Hilton, A Kallies & DA Young, swept from low vegetation (1 ♀); same data except 31 / 08 / 2014 swept from low vegetation (1 ♂, MMP 004187 in molecular phylogeny); - 34.30438 ° 119.24753 °, Bremer River, Fitzgerald River NP, 01 / 09 / 2014, A Kallies & DA Young (4 ♀♀, MMP 005404 in molecular phylogeny; 2 ♂♂); - 34.33788 ° 117.79582 °, Red Gum Pass Rd, Stirling Range NP, 20 / 09 / 2014, DA Young (14 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, MMP 005403 in molecular phylogeny); - 33.74093 ° 115.69478 °, Claymore Rd, 30 km WSW of Busselton, Jarrahwood SF, 03 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (1 ♂); - 33.80340 ° 115.72577 °, Haley Formation Road, 18 km N of Nannup, Jarrahwood SF, 03 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (4 ♀♀, MMP 004328 in molecular phylogeny); - 33.42444 ° 120.21167 °, Nindilbilup Rd, 23 km NE of Ravensthorpe, 17 / 07 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (1 ♀, 1 ♂); - 33.42111 ° 120.21083 °, Nindilbilup Rd, 23 km NE of Ravensthorpe, 07 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (4 ♀♀, 1 ♂); same data except 11 / 08 / 2015 (1 ♂); - 33.59895 ° 120.07374 °, Hopetoun-Ravensthorpe Rd, 4 km SW of Ravensthorpe, 09 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (1 ♀); - 33.51087 ° 120.04148 °, Track off Floater Rd, Ravensthorpe Range, 13 / 08 / 2015, DA Young (1 ♂); - 33.78806 ° 119.51722 °, Fitzgerald Rd, 55 km W of Ravensthorpe, 14 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (6 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂); - 34.38000 ° 119.38806 °, Gordon Inlet Rd, Fitzgerald River NP, 09 / 09 / 2017, DA Young (2 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂); - 34.36583 ° 117.98083 °, Twin Hills (472 m) Stirling Range NP, 13 / 10 / 2017, DA Young (2 ♀♀).