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).

Figures

FIGURES 75–82. Australoluciola maxima sp. nov. holotype male (ANIC). 75–77 abdomen, ventral (75), dorsal (76), tergites 7, 8, dorsal (77); 78–80 aedeagus ventral (78), left lateral (79) and dorsal; 81, 82 aedeagal sheath ventral (81) and dorsal. These figures share scale lines: 78–80.