Australoluciola baduria, 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 : 48-50

Australoluciola baduria sp. nov.

[ Figs 35–37 ]

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

Paratypes (14). Same locality as holotype, 11 males. Japen Island : Mania-Undei 500 feet x.1938 LEC male ( BPBM); Camp 2 Mt Eiori 2000 feet x 1938 LEC male; camp 3 central range Mt Oud 3000 feet xi.1938 LEC 2 males ( NHML) .

Diagnosis. Pronotum orange, elytra dark brown; distinguished from all other Australoluciola with similar dorsal colouration by the swollen and slightly curved femora 3 and the curved tibiae 3 in the male ( Fig. 37 ); MPP longer than wide, considerably longer than the rounded PLP of V7.

Male. 4.9–6.1 mm long. Colour: pronotum orange; MN creamy white; MS dusky brown; elytra very dark brown almost black; all of ventral surface dark brown except for white LOs in V6, 7; T7, 8 pale semitransparent, remainder of tergites brown; dorsally reflexed margins of V6, 7 pale. Pronotum: 1.2–1.5 mm wide, 1.2–1.5 mm long; W/L = 2.4–3.0; midanterior margin broadly rounded, scarcely projecting beyond angulate anterolateral corners; lateral margins slightly divergent posteriorly (C slightly> B); punctures contiguous or separated by up to their width. Elytra: pin punctate, often irregularly so along margins, punctures separated by their width. Abdomen ( Figs 35, 36 ): V3, V4 posterior margins not recurved; posterior margin of V7 trisinuate, LOs in V7 occupying most of the area and reaching sides but not posterior margin; MPP apex slightly produced, L>W; PLP rounded, not produced as far as MPP. T8: Ventral surface with anterior margins of lateral ridges effaced; no flanges. Aedeagus (similar to Figs 39–41 ): anterior portion of ML slender and prolonged; lateral margins of LL straight, tapering to apex; apices of LL narrowly rounded; L/W=5.0. Aedeagal sheath similar to Figs 42, 43 .

Female, Larva. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name is regarded as a noun in apposition, latinised from, and highlighting, the type locality.

Remarks. Two species of Australoluciola bearing expanded hind femora and curved tibiae, (a feature seen in most species of Pyrophanes ), lack the MFC (seen in all species of Pyrophanes ). The possible function of such male leg modifications is 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.