Prophylactis gracilipax Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.1.6. Prophylactis gracilipax Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 9 C, D View Figure 9 , 12 F View Figure 12 , 14 F, S 1 F, S 3 A View Figure 14

Description.

Gold heliozelids (Fig. 9 C, D View Figure 9 ). Wingspan 8.0-9.0 mm (9.6 ± 0.4 mm, n = 5) in females and 7.5-8.5 mm (8.2 ± 0.4 mm, n = 9) in males. — Head: Gold with copper sheen; lighter ventrally. Eyes bright red. — Thorax: Gold, metathorax grey. — Forewings: Dorsal surface gold, with coppery tinge on the base of the costa; ventral surface brown. — Hindwing: Dorsal surface grey-brown; ventral surface grey; males with prominent grey-beige androconial brush. — Abdomen: Grey-brown. In females, abdomen dorsally modified to form a linear pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 F View Figure 12 , S 1 F) approximately twice as long as wide; inner surfaces with 30-35 stout spines projecting at regular intervals from the sides of the cleft toward the midline. Abruptly, the medially projecting spines are replaced by two rows of 10 to 15 more slender, laterally-projecting spines arising from a shallow ridge running along the midline. Posterior of the pollen-collecting structure, at the boundary of tergite VII and VIII, scales projecting laterally in clusters. — Male genitalia (Fig. 14 F View Figure 14 ). Tegumen transverse, very short; uncus well-sclerotised, tongue-shaped; gnathos less sclerotised and reduced to two short, blunt projections. Pectinifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten with 20 long sensilla. Phallus basal area spoon-like. Phallus apex forming a well-sclerotised hook; phallocrypt with one sharp subapical spine pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

An unmistakable species with bright gold forewings that distinguishes it from all other pollinator and non-pollinator group Prophylactis species. Females have a linear pollen-collecting structure with a unique arrangement of spines.

Etymology.

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

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis gracilipax sp. nov. was found on Boronia gracilipes F. Muell. across much of its range from Manjimup south to Windy Harbour and east to Denmark (Fig. S 3 A). The hostplant grows in moist Karri forests from Margaret River on the west coast to Mt Manypeaks near Albany in Western Australia ( Duretto et al. 2013). Prophylactis gracilipax sp. nov. was observed across the flowering period of B. gracilipes from mid-October to early December. Compared with the single non-pollinator group species of Prophylactis associated with B. gracilipes , P. gracilipax sp. nov. was never abundant, and more study is required to determine the extent of its role in pollination.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia gracilipes . — Holotype ♀ ( MMP 005400 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 9 D View Figure 9 ): “ 8 Nov 2012, - 34.80867 ° 116.90200 ° Walpole Fire Mosaic Study Site , Walpole-Nornalup NP, DA Young ” | “ On Boronia gracilipes ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis gracilipax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 005400 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (12 ♀♀, 9 ♂♂): Same data as holotype (1 ♀); same data as holotype except 07 / 11 / 2012 (1 ♀); - 34.78167 ° 116.07333 ° Windy Harbour Rd, 7 km E of Windy Harbour, 03 / 10 / 2013 DA Young (2 ♀♀, 1 ♂); - 34.46533 ° 116.22667 °, Reserve # 13499, Wheatley Coast Rd, 4 km SW of Quinninup, 31 / 10 / 2013, DA Young (2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, MMP 005401 in molecular phylogeny, genitalia slide AK 915); - 34.33317 ° 116.14383 °, Karri Forest Along Track, Barlee Forrest Block, 25 km W of Manjimup, 12 / 11 / 2013, DA Young (1 ♂); - 34.97050 ° 116.75267 °, Cemetery Rd, NE of Walpole, Walpole-Nornalup NP, 03 / 12 / 2013, DA Young (1 ♂); - 34.78098 ° 116.07643 °, Windy Harbour Rd, 7 km E of Windy Harbour, 12 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (4 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂); - 34.85923 ° 117.32153 °, Corner Nutcracker & Mt Lindesay Roads, 20 km NE of Denmark, 24 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (1 ♀).