Prophylactis purdieanallax Hilton, Young & Kallies, 2025

5.4.3.1. Prophylactis purdieanallax Hilton, Young & Kallies sp. nov.

Figures 10 E, F View Figure 10 , 12 K View Figure 12 , 15 A, S 1 K ,, S 3 F View Figure 15

Description.

Cream-white heliozelids (Fig. 10 E, F View Figure 10 ). Wingspan females 6-7 mm (6.4 ± 0.3 mm, n = 10) and males 5.5-7 mm (6.1 ± 0.5 mm, n = 10) collected on B. purdieana ssp. purdieana ; females 5-6 mm (5.6 ± 0.4 mm, n = 10) and males 5-5.5 mm (5.3 ± 0.3 mm, n = 10) collected on B. purdieana ssp. calcicola . — Head: Cream-white with golden tinge. Eyes dull red. — Thorax: Cream-white with golden tinge, metathorax grey-brown. — Forewings: Dorsal surface cream-white; ventral surface grey-brown. — Hindwings: Dorsal surface white basally, light beige distally; ventral surface silver-white; males without androconial brush. — Abdomen: Grey-brown, lighter golden tinge at tip in male. In females, abdomen modified to form a long spathulate pollen-collecting structure (Figs 12 K View Figure 12 , S 1 K) with a spine-covered medial ridge and raised lateral edges creating two clefts. Scales absent from medial ridge which is covered in spines. — Male genitalia (Fig. 15 A View Figure 15 ). Tegumen terminal edge strongly concave, uncus narrowly rounded, gnathos surface flat. Valva distal arms slender, pectinifer small, less than 1 / 5 of valva length, pecten with 14 long sensilla. Transtilla medial projection strongly sclerotised, near V-shaped with sharp hook at the tip. Phallus basal area spathulate, apex strongly narrowing forming a weakly curved spine. Phallocrypt without subapical spines.

Diagnosis.

Prophylactis purdieanallax sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Prophylactis by the pale cream white colour and the lack of scattered lighter and darker scales on the forewings. Females also have a uniquely shaped pollen-collecting structure with spoon like lateral edges. This is one of two species of Prophylactis found associated with B. purdieana and the only pollinator.

Etymology.

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

Distribution and Biology.

Prophylactis purdieanallax sp. nov. has been found from mid-June to early July at Gnagara and Eneabba north of Perth on the nominate form of the hostplant Boronia purdieana ssp. purdieana , which grows in waterlogged Banksia J. R. Forst. and G. Forst. woodlands ( Duretto et al. 2013) and has also been found in Kwongan and open mallee woodland. The moth has also been found in July on Boronia purdieana ssp. calcicola P. G. Wilson, which grows on sand over limestone in Kalbarri NP ( Duretto et al. 2013) (Fig. S 3 F). Notably, these two populations also cluster separately in the phylogenetic tree (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ; Table S 2). Considering the short molecular distance and their very similar morphological characters, however, we recognize them as single species. Boronia purdieana is rarely visited by other insects, and in the case of an isolated population of B. purdieana ssp. purdieana from north of Perth, which appears to have lost its population of P. purdieanallax sp. nov. moths after a fire, the plants repeatedly failed to set seed.

Unlike other pollinating Prophylactis species, P. purdieanallax sp. nov. associated with Boronia purdieana ssp. purdieana are relatively inactive, rarely seen flying over the hostplant and have been mostly observed, via an angled mirror, perched inside the downward-hanging flowers. As this is a winter active species, found around and to the north of the Swan Plains, this apparent lack of activity may be related to the cool temperatures during the mid- to late-winter flight window of the species. Interestingly, P. purdieanallax sp. nov. associated with Boronia purdieana ssp. calcicola , which is the more northerly population, occurs in an environment that is generally warmer at that time of year, are notably more active than their southern relatives.

Material examined.

All specimens were swept, shaken or taken by eye from Boronia purdieana . — Holotype: ♀ ( MMP 005394 in molecular phylogeny, Fig. 10 F View Figure 10 ). “ 18 June 2016, - 34.73667 ° 115.94056 °, Along St Patricks Rd , Moore River State Forest, Gnagara, WA, DA Young ” | “ On Boronia purdieana ssp. purdieana in open woodland ” | “ Holotype ♀, Prophylactis purdieanallax sp. nov., Hilton et al. 2025 ” | “ MMP 005394 ” ( WAM) . — Paratypes (13 ♀♀, 20 ♂♂): Same data as holotype (7 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂, MMP 005397 in molecular phylogeny); - 29.90972 115.25472, Brand Hwy, 10 km S of Eneabba, 26 / 06 / 2018, DA Young (4 ♀♀, MMP 005396 in molecular phylogeny; 12 ♂♂, genitalia slide AK 925); same data except 05 / 07 / 2018 (2 ♀♀, 1 ♂).

Additional material.

- 27.77655 ° 114.13042 °, Eagle Gorge, Kalbarri NP, 22 / 07 / 2014, DA Young (5 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂, genitalia slide AK 924); same data except 24 / 07 / 2014 (16 ♀♀, 21 ♂♂); same data except 28 / 07 / 2014 (6 ♀♀, 10 ♂♂); same data except 01 / 08 / 2014 (7 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂); - 27.78167 114.12806 Eagle Gorge, Kalbarri NP 15 / 07 / 2016 DA Young (3 ♀♀, MMP 005398 in molecular phylogeny; 7 ♂♂, genitalia slides AK 914, AK 927, MMP 005399 in molecular phylogeny); same data except 20 / 07 / 2016 (1 ♂); - 27.78167 ° 114.12806 °, Eagle Gorge, Kalbarri NP, 15 / 07 / 2016, DA Young (sex unknown, whole adult processed for RNA extraction, MMP 003366 in molecular phylogeny); - 27.77655 ° 114.130417 °, Eagle Gorge, Kalbarri, DA Young, 22 / 07 / 2014, 28 / 07 / 2014, 01 / 08 / 2014 (sexes unknown, multiple whole adults pooled for RNA extraction, MMP 003500 in molecular phylogeny).