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)
Author
Ballantyne, Lesley A.
Author
Lambkin, Christine
text
Zootaxa
2009
2009-02-04
1997
1
188
journal article
11755334
Pygatyphella ignota
(
Olivier, 1911
)
(
Figs 265, 268, 269, 274–277
)
Atyphella ignota
Olivier, 1911:174
;
1913:417
.
Luciola (Luciola) ignota
(Olivier)
.
McDermott, 1966:105
.
Holotype
.
Male.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
:
Milne Bay
Pr.,
9.30S
,
150.40E
,
Fergusson Is.
, ix, x, xi, xii, 1894,
A. S. Meek
(
MNHN
); labelled (
Fig. 277
) 1. (
Printed
)
Fergusson I.
, ix.x.xi.xii.94 (printed number 5 overwritten with large 4) (
A. S. Meek
). 2. (
Handwritten
on red paper)
ignota
Ern Oliv.
Diagnosis.
Medium sized (
9.4 mm
long); dorsal colouration of elytra dingy pale brown; most similar to
Pygat.
obsoleta
, distinguished by the dorsal colouration, the scarce production of the preapical outer margin of the LL, the squarely truncate MPP apex, and the apparent lack of a median longitudinal trough on the ventral surface of T8.
Male redescription
.
9.4 mm
long; 4.0 mm wide; W/L 2.3. Colour (
Figs 265, 268
): Pronotum dingy pale yellow with small paired median light brown patches, semitransparent in areas where fat body retracted; MN pale cream, pale brown markings cover most of median area of each plate; MS greyish cream with an extensive anteromedian brown area not extending to lateral or posterior margins; elytra very pale light brown with lateral margins dingier cream; inner margins of epipleura finely dark brown; dorsal surface of elytral apex with narrow pale brown band extending across outer edge of epipleuron just anterior to elytral apex; under surface of elytral apex dark brown; head, antennae, palpi dark brown except for dingy cream inner margin of apical segments of maxillary palpi. Pronotum:
2.2 mm
long,
3.6 mm
wide; W/L 1.6; both lateral margins with angled convergence and small indentation before angulate posterolateral corners, corners approximately 90° and oblique to median line. Elytron (
Fig 265
):
7.2 mm
long; parallel-sided; inner two interstitial lines well–defined. Head: retracted within prothoracic cavity at rest and not visible from above; GHW 2.0 mm; SIW
0.25 mm
; SIW/GHW 0.1. R labial palp apex with 6 slender teeth along inner margin, L palp with 2 broad basal and 2 slender apical. Abdomen, ventrites (
Figs 268, 269
): LO entire in V6, V7 reaching sides but not posterior margin of V7, median posterior margin not emarginate, occupying> ½ area of V7. MPP as long as wide, posterior margin squarely truncate (very slightly emarginate in dried pinned specimen, entire after immersion in hot water to soften); lacking dorsal ridge. Tergites (
Fig. 274
): T8 visible (coloured) posterior portion considerably wider than long; anterolateral prolongations very elongate, narrow, expanded vertically, lacking flanges; ventral surface of T8 lacking posteromedian ridge. Aedeagal sheath: emargination on right side begins at tergite articulations. Aedeagus (
Figs 275, 276
): L/W 3.5/1; LL/ML 2.8; LL divergent along their length dorsally, and slightly shorter than ML; preapical outer margin of LL barely produced; preapical inner margin of LL produced, short and narrow; base of LL asymmetrically produced to the left; ML symmetrical, lacking lateral teeth.
Female, Larva.
Not associated.
Remarks.
While superficially similar to
Pygat.
obsoleta
,
Pygat.
ignota
is not simply a paler variety of that species, and the aedeagal complex resembles that of
Pygat.
wisselmerenia
sp. n.
rather than that of
Pygat.
obsoleta
. The dorsal elytral colouration is distinctive in lacking the dark markings along the suture characteristic of pale
obsoleta
. Although
Olivier (1913)
recorded this species from some mainland localities, it is possible that these are records of
obsoleta
(I am unable to relocate these specimens).