Prophylactis heterophyllax Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.1.3. Prophylactis heterophyllax Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 1 D View Figure 1 , 6 C View Figure 6 , 8 E, F View Figure 8 , 12 C View Figure 12 , 14 C, S 1 C, S 2 D View Figure 14

Description.

Metallic beige heliozelids (Fig. 8 E, F View Figure 8 ). Wingspan 6.5-8.5 mm (7.4 ± 0.8 mm, n = 18) in females and 6.5-8.0 mm (7.2 ± 0.5 mm, n = 11) in males. — Head: Beige with gold sheen. Eyes red. — Thorax: Beige-gold, metathorax darker, grey-brown in females, brown in males. — Forewings: Dorsal surface metallic beige with gold-silver sheen; ventral surface grey-brown. — Hindwing: Dorsal surface metallic grey-brown; ventral surface light grey-brown; males with prominent straw-coloured androconial brush. — Abdomen: Grey-brown in females, darker brown in males with lighter scales at tip. In males, a strip of scales running down the midline, either side of which are long spathulate scales which project at 45 °, giving the abdomen a distinctive shaggy appearance. In females, abdomen modified to form a V-shaped pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 C View Figure 12 , S 1 C) approximately twice as long as wide. The edges of the structure meet tightly in the posterior half and then open to form a pocket, which is covered by spines and scales, to which pollen attaches and that project medially and anteriorly, meeting at the midline. Anterior of the pollen-collecting structure is a region devoid of scales but with spines to which pollen also adheres. — Male genitalia (Fig. 14 C View Figure 14 ). Tegumen terminal edge concave, uncus near square with round angles, about half of tegumen width; gnathos absent. Pectinifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten covered with 18 long sensilla. Juxta formed by two triangular sclerotised plates. Phallus gradually narrowing from the basal 1 / 5 to the end. Phallus apex forming a well-sclerotised hook; phallocrypt with one sharp subapical spine pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

In females of P. heterophyllax sp. nov., the V-like pollen-collecting structure that is lined with scales distinguishes it from all other species except P. clavatallax sp. nov. and P. molloyax sp. nov., which are similar in appearance. Males are readily distinguished from other species in the genus by the shaggy appearance of the dorsal surface of the abdomen. Knowledge of hostplant or DNA barcoding sequence data aid in distinguishing females of these three species. Prophylactis heterophyllax sp. nov. is the only species in the genus associated with B. heterophylla F. Muell.

Etymology.

The species name is derived from its hostplant species name “ heterophylla ” and the suffix “ - allax ”.

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis heterophyllax sp. nov. was found from the Millbrook Sate Forest, east to the Kalgan River and south to Albany (Fig. S 2 D) on Boronia heterophylla , which grows near streams between Busselton and Albany ( Duretto et al. 2013). Adults were observed across the flowering period of B. heterophylla from mid-August to early October. The primary visitors are P. heterophyllax sp. nov., suggesting that it is an obligate pollinator of its hostplant.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia heterophylla . — Holotype: ♀ ( MMP 005416 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 8 F View Figure 8 ). “ 29 September 2014, - 33.88533 ° 115.52377 °, Jarrah Woodland, Margaret Rd, 18 km NW of Nannup , WA, DA Young ” | “ On Boronia heterophylla ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis heterophyllax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 005416 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (65 ♀♀, 35 ♂♂): - 34.70967 ° 118.02333 °, Moorialup Creek, ~ 7 km E of Porongurup Range, 26 / 09 / 2013, DA Young (14 ♀♀, 1 ♂); - 34.70823 ° 118.04260 °, Moorialup Creek, ~ 7 km E of Porongurup Range, 17 / 09 / 2014, DA Young (6 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂); - 34.86212 ° 117.84743 ° Millbrook Reserve, 7 km N of Albany, 18 / 09 / 2014 DA Young (1 ♂, MMP 005417 in molecular phylogeny, genitalia slide AK 921); - 34.84795 ° 117.85295 °, Millbrook Reserve, 7 km N of Albany, 18 / 09 / 2014, DA Young (8 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂); same data as holotype (4 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂); - 33.88483 ° 115.52117 °, Margaret Rd, 18 km NW of Nannup, 08 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (10 ♀♀, 17 ♂♂); - 33.79635 ° 115.71257 °, Junction Rd, 24 km WNW of Nannup, 03 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (7 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂, MMP 005418 in molecular phylogeny); - 34.70841 ° 118.04289 °, Near Moorialup Rd, Porongurup, 20 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (14 ♀♀, 1 ♂); - 34.84795 ° 117.85295 °, Millbrook Reserve, 7 km N of Albany, 18 / 09 / 2014, DA Young (2 ♀♀).

Additional material.

- 33.79635 ° 115.71257 °, Junction Rd, 24 km WNW of Nannup, 03 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (Whole adults pooled and processed for RNA, MMP 003611 in molecular phylogeny); - 34.70841 ° 118.04289 °, Near Moorialup Rd, Porongurup, 20 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (sex unknown, whole adult processed for RNA, MMP 003124 in Milla et al. 2020).