Corresponding author: David J. Ferguson (
Academic editor: Torsten Dikow.
Australia has 112 described species in the genus
Throughout the last decade intensive sampling of
Lyneborg revised the Australian
Morphological terminology used in this paper follows
Descriptions are based on the holotype, and variations within the species are provided in a section of the descriptive text titled ‘variation’, including differences found in the non-holotype sex. Frons width is determined by the width of the frons (
Terminalia of both male and female were macerated in 10% KOH at 50°C for one hour to dissolve soft tissue; neutralised with acetic acid, rinsed in distilled water, and then dissected in 80% ethanol. Female dissections were made to examine and illustrate sternite 8 and the furca. Preparations were placed in glycerol and figures drawn with the aid of a camera lucida mounted on a Zeiss Stemi SV 11 stereo-microscope. Genitalia preparations are stored in glycerol in a genitalia vial mounted on the pin beneath the specimen.
Collection Acronym: ANIC, Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO National Facilities & Collections, Canberra, Australia; MEIC, M. E. Irwin Collection, Tucson, AZ, USA. Collection Database Numbers: ANIC_29:#####
Frons bulging; frontal pile pale admixed with fewer black hairs, as long as scape, semi-erect; parafacial and area lateral to antennal base with pale pile. Scutum with a pair of distinctive grey vittae on a pale brown ground, medially with a dark brown dorsal line tapered towards anterior; coxal macrosetae pale. Female sternite 8 subspherical with broad pale areas posterolaterally and extending medially; frame of furca medially broad, anteroventral lobe large, extending half the length of the frame. Male epandrium with a modification to the subepandrial plate forming a dorsoventral wall towards posterolateral corner; ventral lobes of epandrium narrow and distinctively elongate.
The species epithet ‘
This species is known only from a series of 22 specimens collected between October and early December on Betka Beach, eastern Victoria. Adults were also observed along other ocean beaches in the same area.
The presence of white pile on the parafacial of
Our ongoing studies of
We thank Chris Manchester, CSIRO National Facilities & Collections for preparing the photographic images, scanning and labelling the drawings and the reviewers of this MS. We also thank the Victorian Department of Sustainability for collecting permits.
Typical
Frons width is determined by the width of the frons (fw) directly in front of the anterior ocellus, divided the width of the anterior ocellus (ao).
Indicating the position of parafacial (pf).
Epandrium, left dorsal view, right ventral view.
Gonocoxite, left dorsal view, right ventral view.
Aedeagus, dorsal view (upper), and lateral view (lower).
Female sternite 8, ventral surface.
Female furca.
Female internal organs.