Pygatyphella limbatifusca, Ballantyne & Lambkin, 2009

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 : 88-89

Pygatyphella limbatifusca sp. n.

( Figs 329, 338, 341, 362, 363, 370, 371)

Holotype. Male. SOLOMON ISLANDS: Makira Pr., San Cristobal: 10.35S, 161.30E, Manipwena, Magoha River , 13.viii.1960, COB ( BPBM).

Paratypes (26). Collector is COB. SOLOMON ISLANDS: Makira Pr., San Cristobal: 10.35S, 161.30E, Manipwena, Magoha River , 13.viii.1960, 6 males, 3 females ; Kira Kira light trap, 15.viii.1960, male; Napagiwae , 20.viii.1960, 5 males ; Wugiroga , 10.viii.1960 , male; Bweinaniawarikiapu , 11–12.viii.1960, 7 males, 4 females ( BPBM) .

Diagnosis. Part of the Pygatyphella B complex; very similar to Pygat. limbatipennis , which is not known from San Cristobal, distinguished by the median pronotal markings, the paler brown elytra, the slightly paler and much wider lateral elytral margins, and the restricted occurrence on San Cristobal.

Male. 8.1–9.8 mm long; 3.4–3.9 mm wide; W/L 0.4. Colour ( Fig. 329, 338): Pronotum orange yellow, semitransparent with underlying fat body visible, and 2 small median dark brown areas; elytra mid-brown, lateral margins widely pale yellow and semitransparent, pale margins extending from outer edge of humerus to apical area of suture; MS and MN pale yellow; head, antennae and palpi very dark brown; venter of thorax pale orange yellow except for very dark brown tarsi and apical ¾ of tibiae; basal ventrites yellowish, V3 with dark markings in one Bweinaniawarikiapu male and two Napagiwae; V4 extensively in representatives from all locations, V4 lightly marked in Bweinaniawarikiapu (3) and Manipwena (2); V5 always very dark brown, V7 yellowish and semitransparent behind LO; basal tergites yellowish, T 4–6 marked irregularly in light brown; T 7 and 8 orange yellow and semitransparent. Pronotum ( Fig. 338): 1.7–2.3 mm long; 3.0– 3.7 mm wide; W/L 1.6–1.7; lateral margins with rounded convergence in posterior areas; lacking indentation near posterolateral corners; with slight irregularities along rounded posterolateral corners, which project at least as far as median posterior margin. Elytron: convex-sided; 6.0– 7.5 mm long; interstitial lines not well–defined. Head: large, moderately exposed, not able to be completely retracted into prothoracic cavity; GHW 1.9–2.4 mm; SIW 0.2–0.3 mm; SIW/GHW 0.1; ASD<ASW, sockets very close but not contiguous; frons not defined. Abdomen, ventrites: LO in V7 occupying half or less than half the area, not reaching sides, posterior margin not emarginated; muscle impressions clearly visible through cuticle in arched, not swollen, posterior half; posterolateral corners of V7 angulate. MPP symmetrical or asymmetrical, squarely or obliquely truncate (slightly obliquely truncate in Wugiroga 1, Bweinaniwarikiapu 1, Manipwena 3, and Napagiwae 1; obliquely truncate in remainder, very strongly in Bweinaniwarikiapu 1 and Kira Kira 1); with a broad dorsal ridge developed slightly to the left of centre. Tergites: T8 outline pattern 4 ( Fig. 440); as wide as long, with low rounded curved elevation in posterior area to one side of mid-line; lateral margins converge posteriorly and median posterior margin (viewed from above) narrowly rounded; anterolateral prolongations of T8 elongate, narrow, and expanded vertically; ventrally directed pieces at bases of prolongations of T8 present. Aedeagal sheath ( Figs 362, 363) subparallel-sided for 1/3–1/2 of its length past articulation with sheath tergite, then right side emarginate; anterior margin of tergite not emarginated; tergite with slight projection to R (as in Figs 360, 361). Aedeagus ( Figs 370, 371): L/W <3; LL/ML wide; LL diverge along most of their length dorsally, slightly shorter than ML, apices rounded and subequal in width to ML; ML bearing narrow pointed lateral teeth, apex rounded truncate; base of LL not asymmetrically produced, slightly irregularly rounded.

Female. 9.0– 9.6 mm long. Coloured as for male with these exceptions: V6 with yellowish LO which is retracted narrowly across the posterior margin which is semitransparent with whitish fat body visible in irregular clumps; V7, 8 semitransparent with underlying fat body confusing the basic colour, V7 with diffuse brown markings in median and anterolateral areas in all but one Bweinaniwarikiapu female. V7 lacking anterolateral depressions; with median posterior margin shallowly emarginate, and posterolateral areas broadly rounded; V8 median posterior margin narrowly emarginate; T8 with lateral margins converging posteriorly and posterior margin rounded.

Larva. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun formed by combining part of the name of the species it most resembles ( limbatipennis ) and ‘fusca’ (dark) to highlight the dark markings on the pronotum. For a discussion on the possible variability in colour and morphology in specimens of this species, Pygat. limbatipennis and Pygat. salomonis see below and Tables 8, 9.