Australoluciola japenensis, Ballantyne & Lambkin, 2013

Ballantyne, Lesley A. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2013, Systematics and Phylogenetics of Indo-Pacific Luciolinae Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) and the Description of new Genera, Zootaxa 3653 (1), pp. 1-162 : 56

Australoluciola japenensis sp. nov.

[ Figs 38–44 ]

Holotype. Male. INDONESIA (as Dutch New Guinea): 1.45S, 136.08E, Japen Island Mt Baduri 1000 feet viii.1938 LEC ( NHML).

Paratypes (13). Same locality as holotype, 2 males, 11 females ( NHML) .

Diagnosis. Dorsal surface yellowish orange except for narrow dusky brown apex of elytra; distinguished from all other Australoluciola by the dorsal colouration; one of two Australoluciola with expanded and curved femora 3 and the curved tibiae 3 in the male (similar to Fig. 37 ). Distinguished from Aus. baduri sp. nov. by the elytral colouration; MPP longer than wide, considerably longer than the rounded posterolateral corners of V7 ( Fig. 44 ).

Male. 4.8 – 5.5 mm long. Colour: pronotum, MS, and elytra yellowish orange, elytra with restricted dusky apical area; MN whitish due to underlying fat body; head between eyes yellowish, labrum brown, antennae and apical palpomeres dark brown; ventral surface of body (excluding LOs) yellowish except for brown apices of femora 1, 2 and brown tibiae and tarsi 1, 2; LO in V6, 7 whitish, extending into PLP and MPP except for a very narrow posterior margin; dorsal surface of abdomen including terminal tergites yellowish. Pronotum: 1.4–1.5 mm wide, 0.8–1.0 mm long; W/L = 1.5–1.8; midanterior margin rounded, not projecting beyond angulate anterolateral corners; lateral margins subparallel-sided (A=B=C or B=C); punctures contiguous or separated by up to their width. Elytra: pin punctate, often irregularly so along margins, punctures separated by their width. Head: gently excavated between eyes; GHW 0.9–1.0 mm; SIW 0.2 mm; ASD> ASW. Abdomen ( Fig. 44 ; similar to Figs 35, 36 ): V3, V4 posterior margins not recurved; posterior margin of V7 trisinuate, posterolateral corners rounded, not produced as far as MPP ( Fig. 44 ); LOs in V7 occupying most of the area and reaching to sides and well into PLP and MPP except for a very narrow posterior margin; MPP apex truncate slightly rounded, L>W. T8: posterior margin straight ( Fig. 44 ); ventral surface with lateral ridges effaced anteriorly, no flanges. Aedeagus ( Figs 39 -41 ): anterior portion of ML slender and prolonged (arrowed in Figs); lateral margins of LL straight, tapering to apex; apices of LL narrowly rounded; L/W 5.0. Aedeagal sheath ( Figs 42, 43 ).

Female. Associated by label data only. Macropterous, coloured as for male except for ventral abdomen where ventrites preceding LO are brownish; LO white; V7, 8 semitransparent yellowish. Bursa plates ( Fig. 38 ) observed through whole abdomen soaked in cold KOH, wide and paired.

Etymology. The specific name (latinised, genitive case) derives from the type locality, meaning “of japen”.

Remarks. Two species of Australoluciola bear swollen hind femora and curved tibiae, a feature seen in most species of Pyrophanes , but lack the MFC. The possible functions of such male leg modifications are discussed subsequently.

Figures

FIGURES 35–44. Australoluciola baduria paratype male 35 -37. Aus. japenensis paratype male 39-44, paratype female 38 (BPBM). 35, 36, 38, 44 abdomen dorsal (36), ventral 35, 38; 44 detail of posterior margin of terminal abdomen; 37 ventral right hind leg (coxa and trochanter not visible); 39-41 aedeagus ventral (39), left lateral (40) and dorsal (41) (anterior margin of ML arrowed); 42, 43 aedeagal sheath ventral (42) and dorsal. Figure legends: V valvifers of ovipositor; 1, 2 and 3 median oviduct plate, posterior and anterior bursa plates; These figures share scale lines: 35, 36; 39–41; 42, 43.