Acanthocasuarina muellerianae Taylor, sp. nov.

Acanthocasuarina muellerianae Taylor, sp. nov.

Figs 103–110, 127–129, 139; Tables 1–5, 8

Types. AUSTRALIA, South Australia: Holotype: 1 3 (slide) Kangaroo Island, 5 km W Vivonne Bay, 35°59.123’S, 137°07.088’E, G.S. Taylor & J.T. Jennings, 9.ii.2008, swept from Allocasuarina muelleriana, ABCL 2008 518 (SAMA). Paratypes: 7 3, 15 Ƥ, 1 nymph (slide) same data as holotype (ANIC, SAMA, WINC).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA, South Australia: from Allocasuarina muelleriana: 1 Ƥ Bullock Hill CP (WINC); 5 nymphs (1 slide), 16 3, 10 Ƥ Douglas Scrub (WINC); 1 Ƥ KI, Beyeria CP (WINC); 3 3, 2 Ƥ KI, Cape Gantheaume (WINC); 1 3, 1 Ƥ KI, Kelly Hill CP (WINC); 1 3, 1 Ƥ KI, Little Terror Ck (WINC); 2 3, 5 Ƥ KI, Parndana (WINC); 1 3, 4 Ƥ KI, Parndana CP (WINC); 2 Ƥ KI, Vivonne Bay (WINC); 3 3, 3 Ƥ KI, 10 km W Vivonne Bay (WINC); 1 Ƥ KI, Seal Bay (WINC); from Allocasuarina striata: 2 3, 2 Ƥ KI, American River Rd (WINC); 1 3, 2 Ƥ KI, Pigs Head Corner (WINC); 1 3, 4 Ƥ KI, Willoughby Rd (WINC); from Eucalyptus fasciculosa: 1 3 Douglas Scrub (WINC).

Description. Adult (Figs 103–109). Colour: Male: general colour pale with ochraceous to brown markings. Vertex pale with two pairs of small brown spots in vicinity of fovea; genal processes pale; antennal segments 1–2 brown; segment 3 ochraceous, darker apically; segments 4–10 dark brown to black; pronotum with a pair of dark brown submedial stripes; mesopraescutum with a pair of broad triangular ochraceous markings anteriorly; mesoscutum with two pairs of light orange-brown to brown longitudinal submedial stripes; mesoscutellum pale; wings clear; wing veins R+M+Cu, R, and proximal portion of C, Rs, M and Cu distinctly pale, all wing veins darker distally; abdominal tergites brown to dark brown; anterior face of proctiger brown to dark brown, pale laterally; subgenital plate and parameres ochraceous to orange-brown; proximal segment of aedeagus dark brown to black, distal segment ochraceous to orange-brown; legs with dorsal dark brown markings; tarsi dark brown to black. Female: as for male, except with distinct orange infuscation throughout; proctiger with proximal brown marking and brown infuscation in vicinity of circum-anal pore ring; subgenital plate with anterior brown markings; proctiger and subgenital plate with distinct internal black sclerotisation.

Structure: measurements and ratios as in Tables 1–5. Antennae short, 1.31–1.43 times width of head; genal processes moderate in length, conical, apices separated, divergent; anterior margin of vertex rounded from dorsal aspect, delineated from genal processes by prominent ridge; vertex with medial suture; pronotum with prominent anterior, medial node; thorax weakly arched, head distinctly wider than pronotum and mesoscutum, fore wings elongate with broadly rounded apex; Rs long, mostly straight except distally, terminating well short of wing apex; vein M1+2 terminating short of wing apex; cell m1 short, broadly triangular, m1 cell value 0.88–1.24; cell cu1 short triangular, cu1 cell value 1.27–1.84; radular areas thin, elongate in cells m1, m2 and cu1; male terminalia as in Figs 127–128; proctiger without lateral expansions; parameres thin elongate, strongly curved inward towards apex. Female terminalia as in Fig 129; proctiger short rectangular, with dorso-posterior margin steeply rounded from lateral aspect and an upturned blunt apical process; subgenital plate broad, elongate-triangular from lateral aspect.

Nymph (Fig. 110) (exuvium): Body light-brown with dark brown markings. Head with extensive submedial dark brown infuscation; meso-and metathoracic depressions dark brown with extensive dark brown markings anteriorly and posteriorly; fore and hind wing pads with dark brown infuscation; caudal plate with extensive dark brown marking submedially [thorax and abdomen with thin medial pale stripe]. Body elongate; anterior margin of head weakly pointed medially; dorsum of body with a distinct medial longitudinal ridge; caudal plate with hind margin narrowly rounded.

Etymology. Named after the host plant, Allocasuarina muelleriana.

Distribution. Recorded from southern Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island in South Australia (Fig. 139).

Host plant. Recorded from Allocasuarina muelleriana (Miq.) L. Johnson (slaty sheoak). Allocasuarina muelleriana occurs as a 0.5–3 m shrub in scrub and heath, from Ceduna and Flinders Ranges, Southern Lofty Ranges [Fleurieu Peninsula] and Kangaroo Island, South Australia, east to Bendigo, Victoria (Wilson & Johnson 1989).

Comments. See Comments under Ac. acutivalvis for diagnoses.