Prophylactis argochalca Meyrick, 1897

Hilton, Douglas J., Young, D. Andy, Milla, Liz, Jin, Mengjie, Wilcox, Stephen, Wang, Qike, Wimmer, Verena C., Chang, Jinny, Kallies, Henning, Hall, Andie, Watowich, Marina, Busch, Carly A., Wilcox, Jordan, Swarbrick, Aileen, Walter, Marlene, Sands, Don, Paterson, Davina, Lees, David C., Duretto, Marco F., Moussalli, Adnan, Halsey, Mike & Kallies, Axel, 2025, Phylogeny and taxonomy of a new clade of Australian Heliozelidae in the genus Prophylactis Meyrick, 1897 (Lepidoptera, Adeloidea) pollinating Boronia (Rutaceae: Sapindales), Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 83, pp. 175-210 : 175-210

5.2. Prophylactis argochalca Meyrick, 1897 comb. rev.

Figure 4 A, B

Prophylactis argochalca Meyrick, 1897: 408. TL: Albany, West Australia. Lectotype in NMHUK (designated here).

Description.

Grey-beige heliozelid moth with bronze sheen (Fig. 4 A, B ). Wingspan 7-11 mm. — Head: Grey-beige with definite bronze sheen. Eyes red. — Thorax: Prothorax and mesothorax grey-beige with definite bronze sheen dorsally. Metathorax grey-brown. Forewings: Dorsal surface grey with slight beige-bronze sheen; base of costa darker; ventral surface grey-brown. — Hindwing: Dorsal surface grey-brown; ventral surface silver-grey. — Abdomen: Grey-brown dorsally; females without pollen-collecting structure.

Diagnosis.

Prophylactis argochalca is a typical representative of the non-pollinator group species of the genus, with little remarkable about its external appearance. It differs from all other here described species of Prophylactis by the absence of a pollinator cleft. It is, however, like many of the undescribed species of non-pollinator group Prophylactis species. Another two undescribed species of Prophylactis were collected from Boronia spathulata Lindl. One is like P. argochalca in coloration but differs by its larger size and barcode. The second undescribed species associated with B. spathulata cannot be confused with P. argochalca as it is brightly coloured and dimorphic. Furthermore, it differs by its unusual biology, with larvae feeding and pupating inside a gall which grows from the flower.

Remarks.

The single recently collected specimen, was associated with Boronia spathulata . However, given that we have only found this one specimen, it cannot be excluded that this association was incidental, and the real hostplant may be another species of Boronia .

Meyrick (1897) described P. argochalca from ten specimens, which he collected in Albany between September and December 1886. All ten specimens of the syntypic series were located, nine (7 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀) in the NMHUK and one male in the ANIC. As multiple similar species of Prophylactis occur in the vicinity of Albany, it is necessary to select a lectotype to ensure taxonomic stability. We hereby designate the female syntype of P. argochalca collected by Meyrick at Albany, Western Australia, on 6 / 12 / 1886 and from which we have obtained DNA sequence data, as the lectotype. The remaining nine syntypes are therefore paralectotypes. As all but one of the type specimens of this species are located in the NMHUK, we are yet to dissect and are unable to describe male and female genitalia.

Material examined.

Lectotype: 1 ♀, “ Albany, W. Australia, 6 / 12 / 86 ”, “ Prophylactis argochalca , 4 / 9 Meyr, E. Meyrick det., in Meyrick Coll. ” “ NMHUK 013697112 with data matrix code] [sequenced specimen] ( NMHUK, Fig. 4 B ) . — Paralectotypes: 2 ♂♂ Albany, 28 / 9 / 1886 (1 / 9, 2 / 9), 1 ♀ (3 / 9), 3 ♂♂ (7 / 9, 8 / 9, 9 / 9) 1 / 10 / 86, 1 ♂ (5 / 9) 2 / 10 / 1886, 1 ♂ (6 / 9), 28 / 92 / 1886 (all in NMHUK); 1 ♂ (not numbered), 28 / 9 / 1886, Albany, ANIC 31-096361 ( ANIC).

Additional Material.

1 ♀ - 34.43160 116.60253, Muir Hwy 5 km W of Lake Muir, 9 / 10 / 2014, DA Young, collected on Boronia spathulata [ MMP 004305].

Figures

Figure 4. Heliozelidae species, dorsal view. A, B Prophylactis argochalca; Paralectotype, NHMUK 013697110 (A); Lectotype, NHMUK 013697111 (B); C, D Prophylactis sp., non-pollinator group species; E, F Hoplophanes sp.; Scale bars = 1 mm. A, C, E: male; B, D, F: female.