Pygatyphella eliptaminensis ( Ballantyne, 1968 )

Ballantyne, Lesley A. & Lambkin, Christine, 2009, Systematics of Indo-Pacific fireflies with a redefinition of Australasian Atyphella Olliff, Madagascan Photuroluciola Pic, and description of seven new genera from the Luciolinae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), Zootaxa 1997, pp. 1-188 : 82-83

Pygatyphella eliptaminensis ( Ballantyne, 1968)

( Figs 64, 255, 264, 266, 270–273)

Luciola (Pygatyphella) eliptaminensis Ballantyne, 1968: 113 .

Holotype. Male. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: West Sepik (Sandaun) Pr., 5.13S, 141.5E Eliptamin Valley , 1665–2530m, June 23–30, 1959, W. W. Brandt ( BPBM).

Material examined. Holotype male, allotype female (same locality as holotype).

Diagnosis. A large species (12.4–15.4 mm long) ( Figs 64, 255, 264), similar to Pygat. peculiaris , the males of which are <10 mm long, distinguished by the absence of dorsal protuberances on V7, the distribution at high altitude, the shorter MPP of V7, the restricted LO occupying <half the area of V7 with posterior margin entire, and the scarce arching of V7 posterior to LO ( Ballantyne, 1968, Figs 54, 55). Similar to Pygat. obsoleta but larger, distinguished by the broad expansion of LL apices and the very short and broad production of the inner apical margin of the LL ( Figs 270, 271).

Male. T8 with posterior (entire) area quite short ( Fig. 273); aedeagal sheath ( Fig. 272) with tergite narrow, anterior margin darker than rest, sternite narrowed in posterior half.

Female. Macropterous, 15.7 mm long, assumed capable of flight; characterised in Ballantyne (1968:114); V7 broadly and moderately deeply emarginated across posterior margin with posterolateral corners acutely angles (R corner rounded, L slightly angulate), and with oval depressions (corresponding to D-V muscles) within the posterolateral projections; V 8 median posterior margin narrowly and shallowly indented; lateral margins of T8 converge posteriorly with posterior margin truncate.

Remarks. Ballantyne (1968) described this species from two males and one female, highlighting its differences from Atyphella peculiaris . It is known only from these records.