Prophylactis tetrandrallax Hilton, Young, Milla & Kallies, 2025

5.4.3.2. Prophylactis tetrandrallax Hilton, Young, Milla & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 1 E View Figure 1 , 10 G, H View Figure 10 , 12 L View Figure 12 , 15 B, S 1 L, S 4 A View Figure 15

Description.

Unusually dimorphic heliozelids with females cream-white and males darker (Fig. 10 G, H View Figure 10 ). Wingspan females 6.0-7.0 mm (6.5 ± 0.4 mm n = 10) and males 5.0- 6.5 mm (5.9 ± 0.4 mm, n = 10). — Head: Lemon gold in females, metallic beige in male. Eyes red. — Thorax: Lemon gold in females, metallic lemon yellow-beige in males, metathorax dark grey in both sexes. — Forewings: Dorsal surface cream white in females with lemon gold region along the costa from base to about midpoint; silver with metallic beige sheen in males; with scattered white, gold and metallic brown scales, especially toward apex in both sexes, more prominent in females. Ventral surface beige in females, brown in males. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface light brown; ventral surface silver-grey; males without androconial brush. — Abdomen: Brown. In females, segments VII and VIII modified to form a narrow and elongated pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 L View Figure 12 , S 1 L): the lateral projections narrow at base, widening towards apex to form a ‘ flytrap-like’ structure, with long spines along the internal margin, spines projecting inward and meeting at the mid-line the basal part of medial ridge moderately elevated while apical area bifurcated and forming two clefts; medial ridge surface without scales but covered with dense spines. Pollen collected in ‘ flytrap-like’ structure. — Male genitalia (Fig. 15 B View Figure 15 ). Tegumen transverse with acute posterior angles reaching to the posterior edge of uncus; uncus small, angulate; gnathos absent. Pectinifer large, over 1 / 3 of valva length, pecten with 28 long sensilla. Transtilla medial projection plate transverse, with two subapical arms extending towards valva. Juxta arrow-like, apex sharp, basal margin truncate. Phallus much longer than vinculum, basal area moderately enlarged, apex forming a weakly curved sharp spine. Phallocrypt without subapical spines.

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from all other species of Prophylactis , both pollinator and non-pollinator group species, by the following characters: forewing with distinctive scattered darker and lighter scales on the cream-coloured background; thorax dorsum light lemon yellow, especially on the females; and female pollen-collecting structures with long medial ridge on the dorsal surface.

Etymology.

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

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis tetrandrallax sp. nov. has been found around Hopetoun in June and July associated with Boronia tetrandra , which grows on sandy and granitic soils ( Duretto et al. 2013) (Fig. S 4 A). The plant has a broader range growing between Albany and Israelite Bay ( Duretto et al. 2013) and further study is required to properly assess the distribution of the moth. Searches around Condingup, approximately 60 km ENE of Esperance, located the plant but failed to locate any moths, albeit in reasonably unfavourable conditions. Boronia tetrandra begins flowering in late autumn and continues through winter to early spring. Early in the flowering season, P. tetrandrallax sp. nov. is far more abundant than the undescribed non-pollinator group species of Prophylactis , which is also found on some populations of B. tetrandra . The latter was, however, the only moth species found late in the flowering season.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia tetrandra . — Holotype: ♀ ( MMP 005392 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 10 H View Figure 10 ). “ 16 July 2015, - 33.94028 ° 120.14667 °, Two Mile Beach, 2 km E of Hopetoun , WA, L Milla & DA Young ” | “ On Boronia tetrandra ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis tetrandrallax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 005392 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (17 ♀♀, 28 ♂♂): Same data as holotype (12 ♀♀, 16 ♂♂, MMP 005393 in molecular phylogeny, genitalia slide AK 917); - 33.95611 ° 119.91667 °, Hamersley Inlet, Fitzgerald River NP, 16 / 07 / 2015, L Milla & DA Young (5 ♀♀, 11 ♂♂); same data except 13 / 06 / 2016, DA Young (1 ♂).

Additional material.

Same data as holotype except 21 / 07 / 2022, L Milla & A Swarbrick (1 ♀ used for RNA extraction. MMP 004820 in molecular phylogeny).