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| Opaluma rupaul Lessard & Woodley, in Lessard, Yeates & Woodley, 2020. |
Abstract
Many eye-catching and undescribed species of Australian soldier flies have been collected but left undiagnosed in entomological collections. We describe Opaluma Lessard & Woodley gen. nov., a new genus of iridescent soldier fly endemic to Australia from the subfamily Antissinae, and provide an updated key to the five Australian antissine genera. Seven new species are described and illustrated herein, along with an identification key to all known species. The new species are Opaluma ednae Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. fabulosa Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. iridescens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. opulens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. rupaul Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov., O. sapphira Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. and O. unicornis Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. All but one are known from locations directly impacted by the recent 2019/2020 spring and summer Australian bushfires. Now that the new species are formally named and described, they may be included in future bushfire recovery monitoring programs. Eight genera of Antissinae are now recognised in the world.
Key words: biodiversity, classification, species description, Stratiomyidae, systematics, taxonomy.
Genus Opaluma Lessard & Woodley, gen. nov.
Type species: Opaluma sapphira Lessard & Woodley, gen. et sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is derived from the Latin opalus, opal, referring to the colourful opal-like appearance, and luma, thorn, referring to the prominent medial hook-like process on abdominal sternite 2.
Opaluma sapphira Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is derived from the Latin, sapphirinus, sapphire-blue, referring to its brilliant coloration.
Opaluma fabulosa Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is derived from the Latin, fabulosus, fancy, referring to the its brilliant colouration.
Opaluma ednae Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is in honour of the comical character Dame Edna Everage whose signature hair has a striking resemblance to the colouration of this species.
Opaluma unicornis Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is derived from the Latin, uni, one, and cornu, horn, referring to the pointed posteromedial process on abdominal sternite 5.
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| Opaluma opulens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. holotype female (QM T246795) |
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| Opaluma opulens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. holotype female (QM T246795) |
Opaluma opulens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is derived from the Latin, opulens, opulence, referring to the beautiful colouration and robust stature of the species.
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| Opaluma rupaul Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. paratype female (ANIC 29-037437) |
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| Opaluma rupaul Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. holotype male (QM T246797) |
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| Opaluma rupaul Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov. holotype male (QM T246797) |
Opaluma rupaul Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is in honour of the drag superstar RuPaul Charles who is known to wear extravagant outfits that resemble this species.
Opaluma iridescens Lessard & Woodley, sp. nov.
Etymology: This specific name is derived from the Latin, iris, iridescent, referring to spectacular rainbow-like colouration of the species.
Bryan D. Lessard, David K. Yeates and Norman E. Woodley. 2020. Opaluma Lessard & Woodley, gen. nov: A New Genus of Iridescent Soldier Flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) from Australia, including Seven New Species. Austral Entomology. 59(3); 467-486. DOI: 10.1111/aen.12485
“Two of my new flies, Opaluma opulens and Antissella puprasina, have now been recognised as endangered species. They are known only from Lamington National Park in Queensland, which was severely burned in the bushfires.”
150 new species have been named in the past year by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and its partners. They include tributes to RuPaul and Pokemon to help Australians understand, protect and benefit from our nation’s biodiversity.
