Australoluciola fuscaparva, 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 : 55

Australoluciola fuscaparva sp. nov.

[ Figs 72–74 ]

Holotype. Male. NEW GUINEA: 7.20S, 146.45E, Morobe Pr., 4 mi n Wau elev. c 2800', nr Kunai Creek , Lae Road, Oct. 18, 1969, J.E. Lloyd, (G352) ( ANIC).

Paratype s. Same locality as holotype, Oct. 18 3 males (G348) ; Nov. 13 male (G590) ( JELC) ; Oct. 17 male (G315); Nov. 16 male (G613); Nov. 12 male (G573); Oct. 18 male (G350) ( ANIC).

Code Names. Luciola 8, "little black" ( Lloyd, 1973a).

Diagnosis. Males dark brown (see Table 9) except for white posterior margin of V5, white LOs in V6, 7 and pale T6–8; distinguished from Aus. fuscamagna by its smaller size and different light patterns. Table 9 lists Luciolinae species having dark dorsal colouration.

Male. 3.5–4.5 mm long. Colour ( Figs 72, 74 ): entirely dark brown except for white V6 and 7 (LOs), white posterior 1/5 of V5, pale semitransparent T6–8 ( Fig. 72 ), and small reddish brown elevated areas of pronotal disc. Pronotum ( Fig. 74 ): 0.8–1.2 mm long, 0.9–1.4 mm wide; W/L = 1.2–1.3; median anterior margin projecting moderately beyond angulate anterolateral corners; lateral margins subparallel-sided (A=B=C); punctures shallow, separated at most by their width; median convex areas of disc smooth, shiny, almost apunctate. Elytra ( Fig. 72 ): shiny, punctures dense, subcontiguous. Abdomen ( Figs 72, 73 ): V3, V4 with posterior margins not recurved; posterior margin of V7 trisinuate (some ethanol preserved specimens appear to have PLP not produced); LOs in V7 occupying most of the area and reaching to sides but not to posterior margin; MPP apically rounded, L=W; as wide as and slightly longer than PLP (Figs). T8: Ventral surface of T8 with well developed lateral ridges without flanges, anterior inner area of ridges rounded; anterolateral prolongations of T8 wide, not as long as posterior entire portion. Aedeagus: anterior prolongation of ML short and wide; lateral margins of LL straight, converging posteriorly with apical ½ of lateral margins not visible beside ML; apices LL rounded; L/W=4.0.

Remarks. This species is named for its similarity to Aus. fuscamagna and its smaller size (Latin, fuscus = dark, or black; parvus = small). Aus. fuscaparva flew in "a jerky, erratic manner while emitting 3–8 (usually 4–6) rapid flashes; each flash had a duration of ca 0.14 sec." in contrast to Aus. fuscamagna which "emitted a rapid, 1 sec. flicker” ( Lloyd 1973b). Lloyd (1977) remarked "the flicker frequency of the little black Luciola is about half that of its relative" ( Aus. fuscamagna ).

Figures

FIGURES 66–74. Australoluciola spp. 66–71 Aus. fuscamagna sp. nov. holotype male (ANIC). 72–74 Aus. fuscaparva sp. nov. holotype male (ANIC). 66, 72 dorsal, 67 ventral; 68, 73 terminal abdomen with LO; 69, 70 aedeagus ventral (69) and left lateral; 71, 74 pronota, dorsal. These figures share scale lines 69, 70.