Prophylactis octandrallax Hilton, Young, Milla & Kallies, 2025

5.4.2.3. Prophylactis octandrallax Hilton, Young, Milla & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 10 C, D View Figure 10 , 12 J View Figure 12 , 14 J, S 1 J, S 3 E View Figure 14

Description.

Metallic grey-beige heliozelids with slight golden sheen (Fig. 10 C, D View Figure 10 ). Wingspan 7-7.5 mm (7.1 ± 0.2 mm, n = 8) in females and 6.5-7.5 mm (6.9 ± 0.3 mm, n = 10) in males. — Head: Grey-beige. Eyes dark red. — Thorax: Grey-beige dorsally. — Forewings: Dorsal surface of forewing metallic grey-beige with slight golden sheen; ventral surface grey-brown. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface of hindwing grey-brown, darker than forewing; ventral surface silver-grey; males with prominent grey-brown androconial brush. — Abdomen: Females grey dorsally, males brown-grey. In females, abdomen modified to form a very long, narrow pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 J View Figure 12 , S 1 J), which in dry specimens appears as narrow anteriorly as at the posterior tip. Lips of the structure overlapping so that the cleft appears closed in dry specimens; likely opening wider during pollen collection. Inner surface of structure with spines which trap pollen. — Male genitalia (Fig. 14 J View Figure 14 ). Tegumen weakly emarginate at the middle, uncus about half of tegumen width. Pectinifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten with 12 sensilla. Transtilla subapical processes short, about same length as the medial projection plate. Phallus longer than vinculum, apex deeply emarginate forming two projecting plates; phallocrypt with a pair of subapical spines pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

Female P. octandrallax sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Prophylactis pollinators by the shape of its pollen-collecting structure, which is linear and closed with overlapping lips in dry specimens. Males can be distinguished from all other species, except its sister species, P. albiflorallax sp. nov., by the presence of the androconial brush and grey forewing with slightly violet shine. Distinguishing males of P. octandrallax sp. nov. and P. albiflorallax sp. nov. requires either knowledge of the hostplant or the DNA barcoding sequences. It can be distinguished from the second Prophylactis species associated with B. octandra , P. jasperae sp. nov., by an androconial brush on the hindwing present in males and the very long and narrow pollen-collecting structure of the females.

Etymology.

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

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis octandrallax sp. nov. is associated with Boronia octandra and was found around the Ravensthorpe district, where it occurs sympatrically with P. jasperae sp. nov. in July and August (Fig. S 3 E). While relatively few moths of either species were noted around the plants, few, if any other insect visitors were observed visiting the greenish to dull pink flowers. The hostplant grows in loam in a limited range from Gnowangerup to Ravensthorpe ( Duretto et al. 2013).

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia octandra . — Holotype: ♀ ( MMP 004335 in molecular phylogeny). “ 17 July 2015, - 33.6187 °, 120.0524 ° Verge of Moir Rd, 4.5 km S of Ravensthorpe , WA, L Milla & DA Young ” | “ On Boronia octandra ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis octandrallax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 004335 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (5 ♀♀, 20 ♂♂): Same data as holotype (1 ♀, 3 ♂♂, MMP 005389 in molecular phylogeny); same data as holotype except 18 / 07 / 2015 (2 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂, genitalia slide AK 928, MMP 4829, MMP 004336 in molecular phylogeny); same data except as holotype 06 / 08 / 2015 (1 ♂); same data as holotype except 12 / 08 / 2015 (2 ♂♂); - 34.30438 ° 119.24753 °, Ravensthorpe Range 6 km NE of Ravensthorpe, 23 / 07 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (1 ♂, MMP 004292 in molecular phylogeny); - 33.45306 ° 120.09889 °, Along Edge of Woodenup Rd, 14 km NNE of Ravensthorpe, 11 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (1 ♀); same data except 15 / 08 / 2015 (1 ♀; 1 ♂).

Additional material.

- 33.6187 ° 120.0524 ° Verge of Moir Rd, 4 to 5 km S of Ravensthorpe, 06 / 08 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (sex unknown, processed for RNA extraction, MMP 003158 in molecular phylogeny); - 33.45306 ° 120.09889 °, Along Edge of Woodenup Rd, 14 km NNE of Ravensthorpe, 19 / 07 / 2017, L Milla & A Swarbrick (♀ processed for DNA extraction, MMP 004818 in molecular phylogeny).