Prophylactis binbin Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.4.2. Prophylactis binbin Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 11 E, F View Figure 11 , 13 C View Figure 13 , 15 E, S 4 B View Figure 15

Description.

Grey-beige heliozelids (Fig. 11 E, F View Figure 11 ). Wingspan 6-7 mm (6.3 ± 0.4 mm, n = 7) in females and 5.5-6.5 mm (6.0 ± 0.3 mm, n = 8) in males. — Head: Metallic grey with beige tinge. Eyes dark red. — Thorax: Metallic grey-beige; metathorax darker grey. — Forewings: Dorsal surface metallic grey-beige with slight silver, gold and violet sheen; ventral surface ochre-grey through the middle of the wing with silver-grey periphery and in males a roughly elliptical patch of intensely ochre-coloured androconial scales running from just below the costa to the midline and from near the base to the middle of the wing. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface grey; ventral surface light silver-grey with ochre tinge; males without androconial brush. — Abdomen: Metallic grey. In females, abdomen modified to form a V-shaped pollen-collecting cleft, twice as long as wide, narrow posteriorly and with a short medial ridge running anterior of cleft. Inner lateral surfaces and lips of cleft and posterior end of ridge covered with spines. — Female genitalia (Fig. 13 C View Figure 13 ). — Male genitalia (Fig. 15 E View Figure 15 ). Tegumen bi-spinose, uncus strongly reduced, gnathos absent. Valva with strong elongate curve spines along costa, pectifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten with 24 long and dense sensila. Transtilla with very sharp lateral spines, subapical processes V-shaped. Juxta basal area with long spines bending backwards to valva. Phallus shorter than vinculum, basal area abruptly narrowing to the end, apex forming well-sclerotised hook-like spine, phallocrypt with a pair of subapical spines pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

Male P. binbin sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Prophylactis species, including the second Boronia crassifolia pollinator, P. crassifoliallax sp. nov., and the undescribed non-pollinator group species found on B. crassifolia , by the ochre patch of androconial scales on the ventral side of the forewings and the slight ochre tinge to the ventral side of both wings in males and females. Valva of male P. binbin sp. nov. with strong elongate curved spines along costa. Female P. binbin sp. nov. have a pollen-collecting structure with a short medial ridge that distinguishes it from the simpler structure found in P. crassifoliallax sp. nov. and from other pollinators.

Etymology.

As suggested by Val and Tim Saggers, who live adjacent to Stirling Range National Park and have been extraordinary supporters of this project, we name this species in honour of Lexie Farmer and her family, proud Noongar people and traditional owners of the lands on which many of the moths described in this paper are found. As a child, Lexie, who tragically passed away in 2018 from cancer, was given the nickname “ binbin ” - the Noongar word for moth. The name P. binbin should be treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution and Biology.

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

Boronia crassifolia is one of two Boronia species that have two Prophylactis pollinator species, P. binbin sp. nov. and P. crassifoliallax sp. nov., in addition to the two species of non-pollinator group moths.

Boronia crassifolia shows substantial variability in its flower structures ( Duretto et al. 2013). Some plants have flowers with similar sized anti-petalous and anti-sepalous anthers, for example the holotype of B. multicaulis , considered a synonym of B. crassifolia , while others have minute anti-sepalous anthers, for example the holotype of B. crassifolia ( Duretto et al. 2013) . Notably, Prophylactis crassifoliallax sp. nov. and P. binbin sp. nov. were found on the same plants. Their precise distribution and biology requires further study.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia crassifolia . — Holotype: ♀ ( MMP 005422 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 11 F View Figure 11 ) “ 26 August 2015, - 33.95028 ° 119.98306 °, Cave Point Carpark , Fitzgerald River NP, WA, DA Young ”. | “ On Boronia crassifolia ”. | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis binbin, Hilton et al. 2025 ”. | “ MMP 005422 ” ( WAM, genitalia slide AK 902) . — Paratypes (9 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂): Same data as holotype except 14 / 08 / 2015, On B. crassifolia (1 ♀, 3 ♂♂); same data as holotype except 24 / 08 / 2015 (1 ♀); same data as holotype (5 ♀♀); same data as holotype except 27 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (3 ♂♂); same data as holotype except 03 / 09 / 2015 (1 ♀, 2 ♂♂); - 33.69361 ° 119.75638 °, Old Ongerup Rd, 21 km W of Ravensthorpe, 14 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (2 ♂♂, MMP 004320, MMP 005423 in molecular phylogeny, genitalia slide AK 903); same data except 17 / 08 / 2015 (1 ♀, 1 ♂); - 34.49194 ° 118.43056 °, Kojaneerup Springs Rd, Stirling Range NP, 16 / 09 / 2015, DA Young (1 ♂).