Australoluciola maxima, 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 : 56-57

Australoluciola maxima sp. nov.

[ Figs 75–82]

Holotype. Male. NEW GUINEA: 3.22S 142.14E, West Sepik Province , Torricelli Mt Sea Falls near Afua, 1700 feet 1939 P G Moore ( NHML).

Paratype (1). Male, same data as holotype ( NHML) .

Diagnosis. The largest species of Australoluciola (9.9–10 mm long) with orange pronotum, dark brown non margined elytra and trisinuate posterior margin to V7; abdominal tergites dark brown.

Male. 9.9–10 mm long. Colour ( Figs75–77): pronotum and MN orange, MS dusky brown, elytra very dark brown; all of ventral surface including head mouthparts and antennae, very dark brown except for white LO in V6, 7, and white posterior margin of V5; basal portion of MPP behind LO clear semitransparent, tip of MPP very dark brown; LO in V6, 7 whitish, extending into PLP and MPP except for a narrow posterior margin; dorsal surface of abdomen including terminal tergites dark brown ( Figs 76, 77). Pronotum: 2.9 mm wide, 1.7–1.9 mm long; W/L = 1.5–1.7; midanterior margin rounded, barely projecting beyond anterolateral corners; lateral margins divergent posteriorly (C, B>A); punctures contiguous or separated by less than their width. Elytra: pin punctate, punctures separated by their width; two to three weakly defined interstitial lines visible. Head: strongly excavated between eyes; GHW 1.9–2.0 mm; SIW 0.3 mm; ASD <ASW. Abdomen ( Figs 75–77): V3, V4 posterior margins not recurved; posterior margin of V7 trisinuate, posterolateral corners rounded, not produced as far as MPP; LOs in V7 occupying most of the area and reaching to sides and well into PLP and MPP, except for a narrow posterior margin; MPP apex slightly rounded, L>W. T8: posterior margin slightly obliquely truncate beside median emargination ( Fig. 77); ventral surface with lateral ridges rounded anteriorly, no flanges. Aedeagus ( Figs 78–80): margins of ML subparallelsided; anterior prolongation of ML short and wide; lateral margins of LL straight, not expanded in apical ½; apices of LL obliquely truncate; L/W=3.2. Aedeagal sheath ( Figs 81, 82).

Female and Larva. Unknown.

Etymology. Named for its size (Latin maximus, a, um large).