Prophylactis clavatallax Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.1.5. Prophylactis clavatallax Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 9 A, B View Figure 9 , 12 E View Figure 12 , 14 E, S 1 E, S 2 F View Figure 14

Description.

Metallic beige heliozelids (Fig. 9 A, B View Figure 9 ). Wingspan 8.0- 8.5 mm (8.3 ± 0.3 mm, n = 8) in females and 7.5-8.5 mm (7.9 ± 0.3 mm, n = 8) in males on B. clavata ssp. clavata and 8.0-9.0 mm (8.4 ± 0.4 mm, n = 8) in females and 7.5-8.5 mm (7.9 ± 0.4 mm, n = 8) in males on B. clavata ssp. grandis . — Head: Metallic gold beige with slight copper tinge. Eyes bright red. Thorax: Metallic beige with slight gold sheen, metathorax grey-brown. — Forewings: Dorsal surface metallic beige with slight silver-grey sheen, costa with faint golden tinge basally; ventral surface brown. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface light beige basally and brown distally; ventral surface light brown above midline with cream androconial scales below the midline; males with grey androconial brush. — Abdomen: Grey-brown. In females, modified to form a V-shaped pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 E View Figure 12 , S 1 E) approximately twice as long as wide; inner surfaces covered with small scales pointing anteriorly and to the midline. — Male genitalia (Fig. 14 E View Figure 14 ). Tegumen transverse with pointed posterior angles, uncus strongly reduced, gnathos hood-like. Pectinifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten with 15 long sensilla. Juxta spear shaped, basal 1 / 5 forming a sharp arrow, while apical 4 / 5 slender. Phallus longer than vinculum, whole capsule slender, not narrower or expanded at base, with smooth and rounded margin. Phallus apex forming a well-sclerotised hook; phallocrypt with a pair of sharp subapical spines pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

Females of P. clavatallax sp. nov. are metallic beige with a V-shaped pollen-collecting structure that is lined with scales and morphologically very similar to that of P. heterophyllax sp. nov. and P. molloyax sp. nov. Identification is aided by knowledge of the hostplants, as P. clavatallax sp. nov. is one of only two species of Prophylactis associated with Boronia clavata . Male P. clavatallax sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other male pollinators by the patch of cream androconial scales on the basal half of the ventral side of the hindwing. The other species associated with B. clavata , an undescribed non-pollinator group heliozelid moth, is of a similar size and general appearance; however, females do not have a pollen-collecting structure, and males lack the hindwing androconial brush.

Etymology.

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

Distribution and Biology.

This species has been found associated with the two disjunct subspecies of its hostplant, the endangered B. clavata (Fig. S 2 F). Specifically, it was found at a few sites on the banks of the Bremer River and its tributaries in Fitzgerald River NP where it is associated with the nominate subspecies B. clavata ssp. clavata ( Duretto 2019) . In addition, it was found about 275 km east near Thomas Fishery, Cape Arid NP, where it is associated with B. clavata ssp. grandis ( Duretto 2019) , which grows in thick scrubland along drainage lines associated with a massive granite outcrop. Notably, our molecular analysis separated P. clavatallax sp. nov. into two groups according to the subspecies of the hostplant.

Several of the Bremer River sites were burnt in 2012. At one of these sites, we made extensive efforts to collect moths in 2015 and then again in 2016 when regenerating plants were 0.5 to 1 m and in full flower. Among large numbers of non-pollinator group Prophylactis moths collected at this time, there was just a single male and a single female specimen of P. clavatallax sp. nov. In 2018, at this site slightly greater numbers of P. clavatallax sp. nov. were detected among very large numbers of non-pollinator group moths. At other sites close by, P. clavatallax sp. nov. was more prevalent, though not all sites had the non-pollinator group species. In Cape Arid, where plants are much larger, both P. clavatallax sp. nov. and non-pollinator group moths were found on one cohort of Boronia , but only P. clavatallax sp. nov. were taken from a second site a little over 500 m distant.

Female P. clavatallax sp. nov. frequently have pollen adhering to the dorsal tip of their abdomens. Like in B. megastigma , B. heterophylla , B. molloyae , B. purdieana Diels and B. tetrandra Labill. , the flowers of B. clavata are seldom visited by insects other than heliozelid moths. Thus, the survival of P. clavatallax sp. nov., its hostplant and that of the undescribed non-pollinator group species of Prophylactis appear to be inexorably intertwined. This web of interactions needs further exploration to determine whether the pollinator is obligate or facultative and so these relationships can be accounted for in any management plan for the plant.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia clavata . Precise locations of this moth have been withheld because the hostplant is threatened. — Holotype: ♂ ( MMP 005390 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 9 A View Figure 9 ) “ 8 September 2015, Bremer River (Site 1) , Fitzgerald River NP WA, DA Young ” | “ On Boronia clavata ssp. clavata ” | “ Holotype ♂, Prophylactis clavatallax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 005390 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (19 ♀♀, 13 ♂♂): Same data as holotype except 14 / 09 / 2015 (1 ♀); Bremer River (Site 2), Fitzgerald River NP, 19 / 09 / 2018, DA Young, B. clavata clavata (2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂); Bremer River (Site 3), Fitzgerald River NP, 19 / 09 / 2018, DA Young, B. clavata ssp. clavata (11 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂); Bremer River (site 5), Fitzgerald River NP, 20 / 09 / 2018, DA Young, On B. clavata ssp. clavata (5 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂).

Additional material.

In Runnel Thickets, Thomas Fisheries, Cape Arid NP (NE site), 18 / 09 / 2017, DA Young, On B. clavata ssp. grandis (7 ♀♀, MMP 005381 in molecular phylogeny; 4 ♂♂, MMP 005382 in molecular phylogeny, genitalia slide AK 910); In Runnel Thickets, Thomas Fisheries, Cape Arid NP (SW site), 18 / 09 / 2017, DA Young (3 ♀♀, MMP 005380 in molecular phylogeny; 4 ♂♂, MMP 004880: sex unknown, whole specimen processed for DNA extraction).