Prophylactis pulchellax Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.1.7. Prophylactis pulchellax Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 9 E, F View Figure 9 , 12 G View Figure 12 , 14 G, S 1 G, S 3 B View Figure 14

Description.

Metallic beige-gold heliozelids (Fig. 9 E, F View Figure 9 ). Wingspan 7.0-8.0 mm (7.7 ± 0.3 mm, n = 12) in females and 6.0-8.0 mm (6.9 ± 0.6 mm, n = 12) in males. — Head: Metallic beige-gold. Eyes bright red. — Thorax: Metallic beige-gold dorsally, metathorax darker. — Forewings: Dorsal surface metallic beige-gold; ventral surface brown. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface brown; ventral surface silver-grey, cream toward the basal; males with a prominent dark grey androconial brush. — Abdomen: Grey. Males with beige-gold scales at dorsal tip; females brown at dorsal tip. In female, abdomen modified to form a V-shaped pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 G View Figure 12 , S 1 G), more than twice as long as wide; inner surface covered by spines and scales that project medially meeting at the midline to which pollen attaches. — Male genitalia (Fig. 14 G View Figure 14 ). Tegumen terminal edge weakly concave, uncus narrow, about 1 / 3 of tegumen width; gnathos absent. Transtilla medial projection plate nearly circular. Pectinifer about 1 / 4 of valva length, pecten with 14 sensilla. Phallus much longer than vinculum, basal part slightly narrowing towards the end. Phallus apical spine weakly curved, with one sharp erect seta near its base; phallocrypt with one sharp subapical spine pointing cephalad.

Diagnosis.

Female P. pulchellax sp. nov. can be separated from most of the Prophylactis species, except P. molloyax sp. nov. and P. heterophyllax sp. nov., by having a V-shaped scale-lined pollen-collecting structure, and by the metallic beige forewings, which lack a basal darker golden region. Male P. pulchellax sp. nov. can be separated from other Prophylactis species (except P. megastigmallax sp. nov.), by the following characters: dorsum metallic beige, androconial brush present, androconial scales absent, scales on abdominal tergites smooth rather than shaggy. Further, P. pulchellax sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from other morphologically similar species by its location, as it is tightly associated with B. pulchella Turcz. , which grows on rocky slopes, while the other species are found in winter swamps and along creek lines.

Etymology.

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

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis pulchellax sp. nov. was observed in the Stirling Ranges in most areas where Boronia pulchella grows (Fig. S 3 B). The moth was found during mid-October on many peaks in the Stirling Ranges including Mt Hassell, Yungamere Peak, Toolbrunup Peak, Mt Trio and Bluff Knoll. Boronia pulchella has previously been found in the Porongurup Ranges ( Duretto et al. 2013); however, since a catastrophic fire in 2008, it has not been recorded. A range of other insects were observed to visit B. pulchella flowers, though this moth is a dominant visitor to this plant and is clearly an important pollinator.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept from Boronia pulchella . — Holotype: ♀ ( MMP 005407 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 9 F View Figure 9 ). “ 25 October 2013, - 34.37770 ° 118.06995 °, Mt Hassell (750 m), Stirling Ranges NP WA, DA Young ” | “ On Boronia pulchella ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis pulchellax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 005407 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (60 ♀♀, 35 ♂♂): Same data as holotype (4 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂, MMP 005408 in molecular phylogeny); - 34.39433 ° 118.13833 °, NW Gully, Yungamere Peak, Stirling Range NP 25 / 10 / 2013, P. Langlands & DA Young (1 ♀); same data except DA Young (1 ♀, MMP 4341 in molecular phylogeny; 1 ♂); - 34.37833 ° 118.07462 °, Mt Hassell (635 m), Stirling Range NP, 20 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (1 ♂); - 34.37815 ° 118.06857 °, Western Saddle of Mt Hassell (700 m), Stirling Range NP, 21 / 10 / 2014, DA Young (2 ♂♂, - 34.37778 ° 118.06917 °, Western Saddle of Mt Hassell (733 m), Stirling Range NP, 15 / 10 / 2017, DA Young (2 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂, genitalia slide AK 922); - 34.39278 ° 118.06135 °, 100-500 m W of Carpark, Toolbrunup Peak (520 m), Stirling Range NP, 19 / 10 / 2017, DA Young (10 ♀♀, 15 ♂♂, MMP 5409, MMP 6409); - 34.39444 ° 118.13889 °, Western Scree, Yungamere Peak (585 m), Stirling Range NP, 20 / 10 / 2017, DA Young (8 ♀♀, 1 ♂); - 34.39444 ° 118.13833 °, Western Scree, Yungamere Peak (563 m), Stirling Range NP, 20 / 10 / 2017, DA Young (7 ♀♀, MMP 5411 in molecular phylogeny; 2 ♂♂, MMP 5412 in molecular phylogeny). - 34.35 ° 118.10 °, Mt Trio, Stirling Range NP, 03 / 10 / 2019, DA Young (8 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂); - 34.40639 ° 117.95250 ° Talyuberlup Trail, Stirling Range NP, 13 / 10 / 2022, DA Young (9 ♀♀); - 34.38111 118.2500, W Gully Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range NP, 18 / 10 / 2019 (10 ♀♀).