Paul WhitingtonBatch 5

Trichorhachus sp. (Argidae: Sterictiphorinae)

Paul WhitingtonBatch 5
Trichorhachus sp. (Argidae: Sterictiphorinae)

Workbook

Observations on male and female of Trichochrachus spp. received from Kerry Stuart.

Specimens collected in September 2025 at Warradarge, WA.

Note: These Warradarge observations are summarised in a matrix at the end of this section, with a comparison to published descriptions of the 3 Trichorhachus species.

Female #PW049 collected on 2nd September

Featured
body length 4.7mm antennae; 3 segmented, simple whole thorax, abdomen bright metallic blue all segments of all legs bright metallic blue laterally and dorsally, except joints between femora and tibiae orange hind basitarsus longer than next 2 ta
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

body length 4.7mm

antennae; 3 segmented, simple

whole thorax, abdomen bright metallic blue

all segments of all legs bright metallic blue laterally and dorsally, except joints between femora and tibiae orange

hind basitarsus longer than next 2 tarsal segments together

Female, Warradarge PW049
genae and face yellow-orange tongue longer than head, dorsal side blackish lateral side of head, thorax and abdomen unpunctured tegula yellow
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

genae and face yellow-orange

tongue longer than head, dorsal side blackish

lateral side of head, thorax and abdomen unpunctured

tegula yellow

Female, Warradarge PW049
clypeus, labrum, inner orbits, orange antennal flagellum shorter than closest distance between eyes face, ventral side of thorax and abdomen unpunctured ventral side of thorax and abdomen metallic blue, except for orange apical segment of abdomen
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

clypeus, labrum, inner orbits, orange

antennal flagellum shorter than closest distance between eyes

face, ventral side of thorax and abdomen unpunctured

ventral side of thorax and abdomen metallic blue, except for orange apical segment of abdomen

ventral and anterior side of all segments of all legs black, except for ventral side of fore tibiae which are orange

ventral side of tongue grey

pre-apical spur on mid and hind tibiae

Female, Warradarge PW049
antenna; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange; flagellum single segment, approx. same thickness as scape mandibles yellow with black tip labrum and clypeus yellow inner orbits and genae yellow glossa (tongue) grey ventrally, black dorsally;
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

antenna; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange; flagellum single segment, approx. same thickness as scape

mandibles yellow with black tip

labrum and clypeus yellow

inner orbits and genae yellow

glossa (tongue) grey ventrally, black dorsally; almost as long as eye

Female, Warradarge PW049
pronotum, mesonotum and scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured distance between hind ocelli greater than distance between an ocellus and back of head antennal flagellum about same thickness as scape, shorter than distance between eyes verte
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

pronotum, mesonotum and scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

distance between hind ocelli greater than distance between an ocellus and back of head

antennal flagellum about same thickness as scape, shorter than distance between eyes

vertex black, genae orange

Female, Warradarge PW049
prosternum and mesosternum bright metallic blue, without punctures genae, mandibles, labrum orange
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

prosternum and mesosternum bright metallic blue, without punctures

genae, mandibles, labrum orange

Female, Warradarge PW049
abdomen viewed ventrally abdomen shining with coarse transverse wrinkles apical segment of abdomen yellow-orange
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

abdomen viewed ventrally

abdomen shining with coarse transverse wrinkles

apical segment of abdomen yellow-orange

Female, Warradarge PW049
abdomen viewed dorsally after removal of wings all terga bright metallic blue, except posterior tergum 1 pale orange, unpunctured
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

abdomen viewed dorsally after removal of wings

all terga bright metallic blue, except posterior tergum 1 pale orange, unpunctured

Female, Warradarge PW049
apical abdominal segment with ovipositor sheath viewed dorsally
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

apical abdominal segment with ovipositor sheath viewed dorsally

Female, Warradarge PW049
lateral view of rear of abdomen, showing ovipositor sheath (third valvula) and protruding tip of saw (lancet or first valvula)
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

lateral view of rear of abdomen, showing ovipositor sheath (third valvula) and protruding tip of saw (lancet or first valvula)

Female, Warradarge PW049
posterior view of end of abdomen showing ovipositor structures
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

posterior view of end of abdomen showing ovipositor structures

Female, Warradarge PW049
apical tip of ovipositor sheath (third valvula) after removal from body, densely covered in stiff bristles
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

apical tip of ovipositor sheath (third valvula) after removal from body, densely covered in stiff bristles

Female, Warradarge PW049
sawsheath and apex of abdomen in T. nitidus (9) and T. australis (10) - from Benson (1938), figs. 9, 10
Female
Female

sawsheath and apex of abdomen in T. nitidus (9) and T. australis (10) - from Benson (1938), figs. 9, 10

Female
portion of saw in T. nitidus (11), including teeth 8-12 of total 14 widely spaced teeth and T. australis (12), including teeth 8-16 of total of about 27 teeth, each bearing smaller denticulations - from Benson (1938), figs. 11, 12
Female
Female

portion of saw in T. nitidus (11), including teeth 8-12 of total 14 widely spaced teeth and T. australis (12), including teeth 8-16 of total of about 27 teeth, each bearing smaller denticulations - from Benson (1938), figs. 11, 12

Female
saw (lancet or first valvula) dissected from female - with hair bands and 16 teeth, each bearing smaller denticulations (serrulae). different number of teeth to T. australis and different to T. nitidus in possessing serrulae
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

saw (lancet or first valvula) dissected from female - with hair bands and 16 teeth, each bearing smaller denticulations (serrulae).

different number of teeth to T. australis and different to T. nitidus in possessing serrulae

Female, Warradarge PW049
enlarged view of end of saw (lancet or first valvula) showing teeth 1-6, each with 3 small serrulae (denticulations) Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) state that in the Trichorhachus sp. ovipositor examined (Fig. 27A,B) serrulae were absent.
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

enlarged view of end of saw (lancet or first valvula) showing teeth 1-6, each with 3 small serrulae (denticulations)

Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) state that in the Trichorhachus sp. ovipositor examined (Fig. 27A,B) serrulae were absent.

Female, Warradarge PW049
distal 2/3rd of saw (lancet) saw is similar to T. australis but has fewer teeth (16 vs. 27)
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

distal 2/3rd of saw (lancet)

saw is similar to T. australis but has fewer teeth (16 vs. 27)

Female, Warradarge PW049
lance (second valvula) dissected from body
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

lance (second valvula) dissected from body

Female, Warradarge PW049
lance (second valvula) dissected from body
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

lance (second valvula) dissected from body

Female, Warradarge PW049
forewing RHS hyaline; stigma and venation black; basal vein joins subcosta at a distance from the cubitus almost as great as the length of the 1st transverse cubital vein
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

forewing RHS

hyaline; stigma and venation black; basal vein joins subcosta at a distance from the cubitus almost as great as the length of the 1st transverse cubital vein

Female, Warradarge PW049
hind wing RHS hyaline, stigma and venation black
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

hind wing RHS

hyaline, stigma and venation black

Female, Warradarge PW049
forewing LHS hyaline; stigma and venation black; basal vein joins subcosta at a distance from the cubitus almost as great as the length of the 1st transverse cubital vein
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

forewing LHS

hyaline; stigma and venation black; basal vein joins subcosta at a distance from the cubitus almost as great as the length of the 1st transverse cubital vein

Female, Warradarge PW049
hind leg - all segments black
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

hind leg - all segments black

Female, Warradarge PW049
mid leg - all segments black, tibia with preapical spur
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

mid leg - all segments black, tibia with preapical spur

Female, Warradarge PW049
fore leg - tibia orange on ventral surface, all other segments black
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

fore leg - tibia orange on ventral surface, all other segments black

Female, Warradarge PW049
fore leg - tibia orange on ventral surface, all other segments black
Female, Warradarge PW049
Female, Warradarge PW049

fore leg - tibia orange on ventral surface, all other segments black

Female, Warradarge PW049

Male #PW051 collected on 2nd September

Featured
body length 5.0mm antennae orange, 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose whole thorax, abdomen bright metallic blue all segments of all legs bright metallic blue laterally and dorsally, except joints between femora and tibiae orange hind bas
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

body length 5.0mm

antennae orange, 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose

whole thorax, abdomen bright metallic blue

all segments of all legs bright metallic blue laterally and dorsally, except joints between femora and tibiae orange

hind basitarsus longer than next 2 tarsal segments together

Male, Warradarge PW051
parts of proboscis shown: - glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa longer than prementum, almost same length as eye - galea, most distal part of maxilla
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

parts of proboscis shown:

- glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa longer than prementum, almost same length as eye

- galea, most distal part of maxilla

Male, Warradarge PW051
antennae; 3 segmented, all segments orange; flagellum bifurcated, setose clypeus, labrum, mandibles and genae orange glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa longer than prementum, approx. same length as eye pronotum,
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

antennae; 3 segmented, all segments orange; flagellum bifurcated, setose

clypeus, labrum, mandibles and genae orange

glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa longer than prementum, approx. same length as eye

pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleura bright metallic blue, unpunctured

Male, Warradarge PW051
antennae: 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance between ocellus and back of head vertex black, genae orange pronotum, mesonotum and scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured forewings
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

antennae: 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose

distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance between ocellus and back of head

vertex black, genae orange

pronotum, mesonotum and scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

forewings hyaline, stigma and venation black; basal vein joins subcosta at a distance from the cubitus almost as great as the length of the 1st transverse cubital vein

Male, Warradarge PW051
labrum, inner orbits, orange face, ventral side of thorax and abdomen unpunctured ventral side of thorax and abdomen metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium) of abdomen ventral and anterior side of all segments of all legs bla
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

labrum, inner orbits, orange

face, ventral side of thorax and abdomen unpunctured

ventral side of thorax and abdomen metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium) of abdomen

ventral and anterior side of all segments of all legs black

pre-apical spur on mid and hind tibiae

Male, Warradarge PW051
after removal of mid and hind legs: labrum, mandibles, all 3 segments of antennae orange ventral side of thorax and abdomen unpunctured and metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium) of abdomen all segments of fore legs shiny me
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

after removal of mid and hind legs:

labrum, mandibles, all 3 segments of antennae orange

ventral side of thorax and abdomen unpunctured and metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium) of abdomen

all segments of fore legs shiny metallic blue, except basal ¼ of tibiae orange

Male, Warradarge PW051
abdomen viewed ventrally: bright metallic blue, unpunctured apical segment (hypopygium) orange
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

abdomen viewed ventrally:

bright metallic blue, unpunctured

apical segment (hypopygium) orange

Male, Warradarge PW051
dorsal thorax and abdomen after removal of wings and legs pronotum, mesonotum, scutellum bright metallic blue; unpunctured abdomen, all terga bright metallic blue except posterior half tergum 1 pale yellow; with coarse transverse wrinkles but unp
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

dorsal thorax and abdomen after removal of wings and legs

pronotum, mesonotum, scutellum bright metallic blue; unpunctured

abdomen, all terga bright metallic blue except posterior half tergum 1 pale yellow; with coarse transverse wrinkles but unpunctured

Male, Warradarge PW051
rear of abdomen, dorsal view all terga shining metallic blue; without punctures orange harpe, tongue-shaped cusps used to grip base of female genitalia during copulation, protruding from rear of body
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

rear of abdomen, dorsal view

all terga shining metallic blue; without punctures

orange harpe, tongue-shaped cusps used to grip base of female genitalia during copulation, protruding from rear of body

Male, Warradarge PW051
genitalia dissected from male - close match to drawing of penis valve of T. hyalinus (Fig. 4) in Benson (1938)
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

genitalia dissected from male - close match to drawing of penis valve of T. hyalinus (Fig. 4) in Benson (1938)

Male, Warradarge PW051
genitalia dissected from male - compare to following figures from Benson (1938)
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

genitalia dissected from male - compare to following figures from Benson (1938)

Male, Warradarge PW051
genitalia dissected from male - compare to following figures from Benson (1938)
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

genitalia dissected from male - compare to following figures from Benson (1938)

Male, Warradarge PW051
Male genitalia of Trichorhachus australis - Benson (1938) fig.5
Male
Male

Male genitalia of Trichorhachus australis - Benson (1938) fig.5

Male
penis valve of Trichorhachus australis (2), T. nitidus (3), T. hyalinus (4) - from Benson (1938), figs. 2-4
Male
Male

penis valve of Trichorhachus australis (2), T. nitidus (3), T. hyalinus (4) - from Benson (1938), figs. 2-4

Male
hind legs: right leg above, outer surface (coxa missing); left leg below, inner surface, with detached coxa all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur hind basitarsus longer than next 2 tarsal segments
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

hind legs: right leg above, outer surface (coxa missing); left leg below, inner surface, with detached coxa

all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur

hind basitarsus longer than next 2 tarsal segments

Male, Warradarge PW051
hind legs: right leg on left, inner surface (coxa missing); left leg on right, outer surface, with detached coxa all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur hind basitarsus longer than next 2 tarsal segments together
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

hind legs: right leg on left, inner surface (coxa missing); left leg on right, outer surface, with detached coxa

all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur

hind basitarsus longer than next 2 tarsal segments together

Male, Warradarge PW051
mid legs: left, inner side of right leg (missing coxa and last 3 tarsomeres); right, lateral side of left leg (missing coxa) all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

mid legs: left, inner side of right leg (missing coxa and last 3 tarsomeres); right, lateral side of left leg (missing coxa)

all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur

Male, Warradarge PW051
mid legs: top, lateral side of right leg (missing last 3 tarsomeres); below, inner side of left leg all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

mid legs: top, lateral side of right leg (missing last 3 tarsomeres); below, inner side of left leg

all segments shiny metallic blue, tibia with a preapical spur

Male, Warradarge PW051
right foreleg (missing trochanter and coxa) - all segments black, except base and apex of tibia orange
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

right foreleg (missing trochanter and coxa) - all segments black, except base and apex of tibia orange

Male, Warradarge PW051
right foreleg (missing coxa) - all segments black, except base and apex of tibia orange
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

right foreleg (missing coxa) - all segments black, except base and apex of tibia orange

Male, Warradarge PW051
left forewing: hyaline, stigma and venation black; basal vein joins subcosta at a distance from the cubitus almost as great as the length of the 1st transverse cubital vein
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

left forewing: hyaline, stigma and venation black; basal vein joins subcosta at a distance from the cubitus almost as great as the length of the 1st transverse cubital vein

Male, Warradarge PW051
left hindwing; hyaline, black veins
Male, Warradarge PW051
Male, Warradarge PW051

left hindwing; hyaline, black veins

Male, Warradarge PW051

Female #PW055 collected on 24th September

Featured
body length 5.0mm antenna; 3 segmented, simple; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange antennal flagellum shorter than closest distance between eyes flagellum slightly narrower than scape ventral side of thorax and abdomen bright metallic blu
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

body length 5.0mm

antenna; 3 segmented, simple; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange

antennal flagellum shorter than closest distance between eyes

flagellum slightly narrower than scape

ventral side of thorax and abdomen bright metallic blue, pronotum orange

genae, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

legs: all coxae and femora black; apex of fore and mid femora, apical 1/5th hind femora orange; all tibiae and tarsi orange with apices slightly infuscated

Female, Warradarge PW055
genae, lateral vertex orange lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen metallic blue; tegula blackish-orange legs: all coxa and femora black; except apical ¼ of femur orange laterally; all tibiae and tarsi orange, slightly infuscate
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

genae, lateral vertex orange

lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen metallic blue; tegula blackish-orange

legs: all coxa and femora black; except apical ¼ of femur orange laterally; all tibiae and tarsi orange, slightly infuscated in apical half laterally

Female, Warradarge PW055
genae and vertex orange, except post-ocellar area black mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured stigma brown, venation dark brown, subcostal cell clearly evident
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

genae and vertex orange, except post-ocellar area black

mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

stigma brown, venation dark brown, subcostal cell clearly evident

Female, Warradarge PW055
glossa shorter than prementum; much shorter than length of eye antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape at greatest width genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum orange pronotum orange with black dorsal patch
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

glossa shorter than prementum; much shorter than length of eye

antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape at greatest width

genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum orange

pronotum orange with black dorsal patch

Female, Warradarge PW055
tegula brownish-orange mesopleura, mesoscutum and scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured wings hyaline, venation brown
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

tegula brownish-orange

mesopleura, mesoscutum and scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

wings hyaline, venation brown

Female, Warradarge PW055
abdomen metallic blue laterally venation brown, subcosta cell prominent
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

abdomen metallic blue laterally

venation brown, subcosta cell prominent

Female, Warradarge PW055
forewing hyaline, stigma blackish-brown, venation brown abdomen shiny metallic blue; sawsheath black with brown apex
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

forewing hyaline, stigma blackish-brown, venation brown

abdomen shiny metallic blue; sawsheath black with brown apex

Female, Warradarge PW055
glossa (orange) shorter than prementum (black), much shorter than eye length galea grey/orange
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

glossa (orange) shorter than prementum (black), much shorter than eye length

galea grey/orange

Female, Warradarge PW055
glossa (orange) shorter than prementum (black), much shorter than eye length galea grey/orange
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

glossa (orange) shorter than prementum (black), much shorter than eye length

galea grey/orange

Female, Warradarge PW055
vertex black; inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange prominent frontal carina
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

vertex black; inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange

prominent frontal carina

Female, Warradarge PW055
inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips) prominent frontal carina
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

prominent frontal carina

Female, Warradarge PW055
post-ocellar area black, vertex more laterally orange; unpunctured distance between posterior ocelli greater than distance to back of head pronotum orange with black patch on dorso-medial side
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

post-ocellar area black, vertex more laterally orange; unpunctured

distance between posterior ocelli greater than distance to back of head

pronotum orange with black patch on dorso-medial side

Female, Warradarge PW055
pronotum orange with medial black patch mesonotum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured tegulae orange
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

pronotum orange with medial black patch

mesonotum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

tegulae orange

Female, Warradarge PW055
pronotum orange with black dorso-medial patch vertex laterally, genae and inner orbit orange antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

pronotum orange with black dorso-medial patch

vertex laterally, genae and inner orbit orange

antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape

Female, Warradarge PW055
apex of abdomen viewed dorso-laterally shiny metallic blue, unpunctured cerci, 10th abdominal segment orange sawsheath (3rd valvula) black, laterally flattened
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

apex of abdomen viewed dorso-laterally

shiny metallic blue, unpunctured

cerci, 10th abdominal segment orange

sawsheath (3rd valvula) black, laterally flattened

Female, Warradarge PW055
abdomen viewed from rear after removal from female and treatment overnight with KOH identical to photograph of T. nitidus genitalia in Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), Fig. 24F
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

abdomen viewed from rear after removal from female and treatment overnight with KOH

identical to photograph of T. nitidus genitalia in Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), Fig. 24F

Female, Warradarge PW055
sawsheath (3rd valvula) separated from female genitalia
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

sawsheath (3rd valvula) separated from female genitalia

Female, Warradarge PW055
sawsheath (3rd valvula) separated from female genitalia
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

sawsheath (3rd valvula) separated from female genitalia

Female, Warradarge PW055
dissection of female genitalia one side of saw (1st valvula, lancet) above other side of saw attached to lance (2nd valvula) below
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

dissection of female genitalia

one side of saw (1st valvula, lancet) above

other side of saw attached to lance (2nd valvula) below

Female, Warradarge PW055
saw dissected from female genitalia 12-13 teeth saw teeth with serrulae
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

saw dissected from female genitalia

12-13 teeth

saw teeth with serrulae

Female, Warradarge PW055
tip of saw (lancet) showing last 4 teeth, which are serrulated
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

tip of saw (lancet) showing last 4 teeth, which are serrulated

Female, Warradarge PW055
forewing hyaline: costa, stigma and veins brown prominent precostal cell
Female, Warradarge PW055
Female, Warradarge PW055

forewing

hyaline: costa, stigma and veins brown

prominent precostal cell

Female, Warradarge PW055

Female #PW056 collected on 24th September

Featured
body length 4.9mm antenna: 3 segmented, simple; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange antennal flagellum just shorter than distance between eyes flagellum slightly narrower than scape ventral side of thorax and abdomen bright metallic blue,
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

body length 4.9mm

antenna: 3 segmented, simple; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange

antennal flagellum just shorter than distance between eyes

flagellum slightly narrower than scape

ventral side of thorax and abdomen bright metallic blue, pronotum orange

genae, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

legs: all coxae and femora black with apical 1/5th - ¼ of femora orange; all tibiae and tarsi orange with some tarsal segments darkened in some legs

Female, Warradarge PW056
genae, lateral vertex orange lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen metallic blue; tegula orange; pronotum orange, mottled with black legs; all coxae and femora black; except apical ¼ of hind femur orange laterally; all tibiae an
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

genae, lateral vertex orange

lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen metallic blue; tegula orange; pronotum orange, mottled with black

legs; all coxae and femora black; except apical ¼ of hind femur orange laterally; all tibiae and tarsi orange, some tarsal segments of some legs darkened apically

Female, Warradarge PW056
genae and vertex orange, except post-ocellar area black mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured stigma brown, venation dark brown subcostal cell clearly evident
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

genae and vertex orange, except post-ocellar area black

mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

stigma brown, venation dark brown

subcostal cell clearly evident

Female, Warradarge PW056
genae, inner orbits, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black glossa shorter than prementum; much shorter than length of eye; labial palps black pronotum orange, speckled with black tegula orange mesonotum, scutellum, pleurae shiny metallic blue.
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

genae, inner orbits, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black

glossa shorter than prementum; much shorter than length of eye; labial palps black

pronotum orange, speckled with black

tegula orange

mesonotum, scutellum, pleurae shiny metallic blue. unpunctured

wings hyaline, brown venation, subcostal cell clearly evident

Female, Warradarge PW056
detail of mouthparts glossa (orange) shorter than prementum (black), labial palps black, 4-segmented
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

detail of mouthparts

glossa (orange) shorter than prementum (black), labial palps black, 4-segmented

Female, Warradarge PW056
glossa shorter than prementum; much shorter than length of eye genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

glossa shorter than prementum; much shorter than length of eye

genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

Female, Warradarge PW056
tegula orange pronotum orange, speckled with black mesopleura, mesoscutum bright metallic blue, unpunctured wings hyaline, brown venation, subcostal cell clearly evident
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

tegula orange

pronotum orange, speckled with black

mesopleura, mesoscutum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

wings hyaline, brown venation, subcostal cell clearly evident

Female, Warradarge PW056
mesopleura, metapleura bright metallic blue, unpunctured legs: coxae and femora of fore and mid legs black; apical tip of femora orange; tibiae and tarsi orange
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

mesopleura, metapleura bright metallic blue, unpunctured

legs: coxae and femora of fore and mid legs black; apical tip of femora orange; tibiae and tarsi orange

Female, Warradarge PW056
abdomen shiny metallic blue 10th abdominal segment orange; cerci orange sawsheath black with brown apex wings hyaline, brown venation, subcostal cell clearly evident
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

abdomen shiny metallic blue

10th abdominal segment orange; cerci orange

sawsheath black with brown apex

wings hyaline, brown venation, subcostal cell clearly evident

Female, Warradarge PW056
forewings hyaline subcostal cell clearly evident costa, stigma and venation brown
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

forewings hyaline

subcostal cell clearly evident

costa, stigma and venation brown

Female, Warradarge PW056
genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips) glossa orange, prementum black, maxillary palps black
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

glossa orange, prementum black, maxillary palps black

Female, Warradarge PW056
antennal flagellum slightly longer than closest distance between eyes flagellum slightly narrower than scape inner orbits, genae, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips) glossa orange
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

antennal flagellum slightly longer than closest distance between eyes

flagellum slightly narrower than scape

inner orbits, genae, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

glossa orange

Female, Warradarge PW056
antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape at thickest point vertex black with region lateral to post-ocellar area orange distance between hind ocelli greater than distance between an ocellus and back of head mesoscutum and scutellum shiny m
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape at thickest point

vertex black with region lateral to post-ocellar area orange

distance between hind ocelli greater than distance between an ocellus and back of head

mesoscutum and scutellum shiny metallic blue, unpunctured

pronotum orange, speckled with black

Female, Warradarge PW056
ventral view of genitalia sawsheath black, laterally flattened cerci orange
Female, Warradarge PW056
Female, Warradarge PW056

ventral view of genitalia

sawsheath black, laterally flattened

cerci orange

Female, Warradarge PW056

Male #PW057 collected on 24th September

Featured
body length 4.6mm antennae 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose; scape blackish-orange, pedicel orange; flagellum orange genae, inner orbits orange lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen black; tegula blackish-orange; prono
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

body length 4.6mm

antennae 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose; scape blackish-orange, pedicel orange; flagellum orange

genae, inner orbits orange

lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen black; tegula blackish-orange; pronotum black with thin posterior orange rim

legs: all coxae and femora black, except apex of hind femur orange; all tibiae and tarsi orange, apex of hind tibia blackish

Male, Warradarge PW057
distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance between ocellus and back of head vertex black, genae orange mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue; unpunctured forewings hyaline, stigma, costa and venation dark brown; subcostal cell b
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance between ocellus and back of head

vertex black, genae orange

mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue; unpunctured

forewings hyaline, stigma, costa and venation dark brown; subcostal cell barely evident

Male, Warradarge PW057
scape black, pedicel blackish-orange; flagellum orange clypeus, labrum, inner orbits, mandibles (except for black tips) orange ventral side of thorax and abdomen metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium) of abdomen; unpunctured
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

scape black, pedicel blackish-orange; flagellum orange

clypeus, labrum, inner orbits, mandibles (except for black tips) orange

ventral side of thorax and abdomen metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium) of abdomen; unpunctured

legs: coxae, ventral side of all legs black; femora, ventral side of all legs black with apices orange; all tibiae and tarsi orange, apex of hind tibiae and some tarsal segments somewhat infuscated

Male, Warradarge PW057
distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance from an ocellus to back of head vertex solid black, genae orange pronotum black with thin orange posterior rim mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured tegula blackish-brown
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance from an ocellus to back of head

vertex solid black, genae orange

pronotum black with thin orange posterior rim

mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

tegula blackish-brown

Male, Warradarge PW057
clypeus orange with thin black rim, labrum orange, mandibles orange with black tips, inner orbits orange glossa pale orange with black base, prementum black, labial palps with orange tips
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

clypeus orange with thin black rim, labrum orange, mandibles orange with black tips, inner orbits orange

glossa pale orange with black base, prementum black, labial palps with orange tips

Male, Warradarge PW057
scape blackish-brown, pedicel brown clypeus orange with prominent midline ridge; labrum, inner orbits orange; mandibles orange with black tips fore coxae black, fore femora black with apical 1/5th orange on ventral side, tibiae and tarsi orange
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

scape blackish-brown, pedicel brown

clypeus orange with prominent midline ridge; labrum, inner orbits orange; mandibles orange with black tips

fore coxae black, fore femora black with apical 1/5th orange on ventral side, tibiae and tarsi orange

Male, Warradarge PW057
ventral view of abdomen all segments of venter bright metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium); orange harpe
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

ventral view of abdomen

all segments of venter bright metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium); orange harpe

Male, Warradarge PW057
dorsal view after removal of legs and posterior half of abdomen all terga bright metallic blue, except posterior half of tergum 1 pale yellow; unpunctured forewings hyaline; costa and venation brown; subcostal cell thin but present
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

dorsal view after removal of legs and posterior half of abdomen

all terga bright metallic blue, except posterior half of tergum 1 pale yellow; unpunctured

forewings hyaline; costa and venation brown; subcostal cell thin but present

Male, Warradarge PW057
distal half of forewing; hyaline, stigma, costa and venation brown
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

distal half of forewing; hyaline, stigma, costa and venation brown

Male, Warradarge PW057
hind leg; costa black, femur black with distal 1/5th orange, tibia and tarsi orange with apex of tibia black
Warradarge PW057, Male
Warradarge PW057, Male

hind leg; costa black, femur black with distal 1/5th orange, tibia and tarsi orange with apex of tibia black

Warradarge PW057, Male
foreleg; femur black with apical tip orange; tibia and tarsi orange with apical tarsomeres blackish
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

foreleg; femur black with apical tip orange; tibia and tarsi orange with apical tarsomeres blackish

Male, Warradarge PW057
middle leg; femur black with apical tip orange, tibia and tarsi orange with infuscation of tips of tarsal segments
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

middle leg; femur black with apical tip orange, tibia and tarsi orange with infuscation of tips of tarsal segments

Male, Warradarge PW057
genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.

Male, Warradarge PW057
genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.

Male, Warradarge PW057
genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.

Male, Warradarge PW057
genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.

Male, Warradarge PW057
genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.

genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.

genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.
Male, Warradarge PW057
Male, Warradarge PW057

genitalia dissected from PW057 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below.

Male, Warradarge PW057

The matrix below (click to download a 340KB pdf version) summarises the observations of male and female specimens from Warradarge and compares them to published descriptions of the 3 known Trichorhachus species.

Conclusions:

Warradarge male PW051 collected on 2/9/25 is a good match to published descriptions of T. hyalinus males. Given the similarities between Warradarge male PW051 and female PW049 - in particular, the morphology of the proboscis - it is likely that the Warradarge female PW049 is the undescribed female of T. hyalinus.

Warradarge female PW055 collected on 24/9/2025 is an excellent match in both somatic and genitalia morphology to published descriptions of T. nitidus. In particular the sawsheath, lance and lancet morphology viewed posteriorly is identical to the photo of T. nitidus genitalia in Fig. 24F in Malagon-Aldana et al (2021). Second female PW056 collected at same time as PW055 is almost identical, although genitalia have not yet been dissected for close examination.

Warradarge male PW057 collected at same time as females PW055, PW056 has a very similar morphology and body colouration to those females, in particular morphology of proboscis, colour of pronotum and legs. Those features separate it from the male PW051, which matches the description of T. hyalinus.

Specimens collected in September 2025 at Creyk Park, WA.

Note: These Creyk Park observations are summarised in a matrix at the end of this section, in which a comparison is drawn with published descriptions of the 3 Trichorhachus species.

Female #PW052 collected on 9th September

Featured
body length 5.0mm antennae: 3 segmented, simple; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange antennal flagellum longer than closest distance between eyes flagellum slightly narrower than scape ventral side of thorax and abdomen bright metallic blu
Female, Creyk Park PW052
Female, Creyk Park PW052

body length 5.0mm

antennae: 3 segmented, simple; scape black, pedicel and flagellum orange

antennal flagellum longer than closest distance between eyes

flagellum slightly narrower than scape

ventral side of thorax and abdomen bright metallic blue

genae, labrum, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

legs: all coxae and femora black, all tibiae and tarsi orange-blackish

Female, Creyk Park PW052
genae orange, vertex black proboscis shorter than head, galea relatively short lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen metallic blue; tegula blackish-orange legs: all coxae and femora black, except hind femora black basal half, o
Female, Creyk Park PW052
Female, Creyk Park PW052

genae orange, vertex black

proboscis shorter than head, galea relatively short

lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen metallic blue; tegula blackish-orange

legs: all coxae and femora black, except hind femora black basal half, orange apical half dorsally; all tibiae and tarsi orange

Female, Creyk Park PW052
antenna black scape, orange pedicel and flagellum (with apex blackened), thinner than scape genae orange, black vertex pronotum black medially, orange laterally mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured stigma brown, venation dark
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

antenna black scape, orange pedicel and flagellum (with apex blackened), thinner than scape

genae orange, black vertex

pronotum black medially, orange laterally

mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

stigma brown, venation dark brown

Creyk Park PW052, Female
parts of proboscis shown: - glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa shorter than prementum, much shorter than length of eye - galea and maxillary palps parts of maxilla antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape
Female, Creyk Park PW052
Female, Creyk Park PW052

parts of proboscis shown:

- glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa shorter than prementum, much shorter than length of eye

- galea and maxillary palps parts of maxilla

antennal flagellum slightly narrower than scape at greatest width

Female, Creyk Park PW052
parts of proboscis shown: - glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa shorter than prementum, much shorter than eye length - galea and maxillary palps parts of maxilla genae, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black fron
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

parts of proboscis shown:

- glossa (tongue), labial palps and prementum parts of labium; glossa shorter than prementum, much shorter than eye length

- galea and maxillary palps parts of maxilla

genae, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black

frons black

Creyk Park PW052, Female
genae, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black pronotum orange with black dorsal patch tegula brownish-orange mesopleura, mesoscutum and scutellum black
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

genae, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black

pronotum orange with black dorsal patch

tegula brownish-orange

mesopleura, mesoscutum and scutellum black

Creyk Park PW052, Female
genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (tips of latter black) frons black pronotum orange with black dorsal patch
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (tips of latter black)

frons black

pronotum orange with black dorsal patch

Creyk Park PW052, Female
genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (tips of latter black) frons black pronotum orange with black dorsal patch tegula orange mesopleura shiny metallic blue, unpunctured
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

genae, inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, mandibles orange (tips of latter black)

frons black

pronotum orange with black dorsal patch

tegula orange

mesopleura shiny metallic blue, unpunctured

Creyk Park PW052, Female
genae, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black distance between ocelli greater than distance between ocellus and back of head mesoscutum shiny metallic blue, unpunctured
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

genae, vertex orange; post-ocellar area black

distance between ocelli greater than distance between ocellus and back of head

mesoscutum shiny metallic blue, unpunctured

Creyk Park PW052, Female
genae, inner orbits, clypeus, mandibles orange (latter with black tips) forelegs - coxa, femur black; distal femur, tibia and tarsomeres orange; distal tarsomeres black
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

genae, inner orbits, clypeus, mandibles orange (latter with black tips)

forelegs - coxa, femur black; distal femur, tibia and tarsomeres orange; distal tarsomeres black

Creyk Park PW052, Female
frons, post-ocellar area black; inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, vertex orange ocelli mounted on elevated platform
Female, Creyk Park PW052
Female, Creyk Park PW052

frons, post-ocellar area black; inner orbits, clypeus, labrum, vertex orange

ocelli mounted on elevated platform

Female, Creyk Park PW052
abdomen shiny metallic blue laterally venation brown
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

abdomen shiny metallic blue laterally

venation brown

Creyk Park PW052, Female
abdomen viewed laterally shiny metallic blue, unpunctured cerci, 10th abdominal segment orange sawsheath (3rd valvula) black, laterally flattened, not bifid cf. fig. 9 from Benson (1938) tip of projecting saw visible - orange
Female, Creyk Park PW052
Female, Creyk Park PW052

abdomen viewed laterally

shiny metallic blue, unpunctured

cerci, 10th abdominal segment orange

sawsheath (3rd valvula) black, laterally flattened, not bifid cf. fig. 9 from Benson (1938)

tip of projecting saw visible - orange

Female, Creyk Park PW052
lateral view of apex of abdomen sawsheath laterally flattened, black; not bifid at apex, cf. fig. 9 from Benson (1938) projecting saw visible, orange
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

lateral view of apex of abdomen

sawsheath laterally flattened, black; not bifid at apex, cf. fig. 9 from Benson (1938)

projecting saw visible, orange

Creyk Park PW052, Female
abdomen shiny metallic black; sawsheath black; lancet orange
Creyk Park PW052
Creyk Park PW052

abdomen shiny metallic black; sawsheath black; lancet orange

Creyk Park PW052
apex of abdomen viewed dorso-laterally cerci, 10th abdominal segment orange sawsheath (3rd valvula) black, laterally flattened, not bifid cf. fig. 9 from Benson (1938) tip of projecting saw visible - orange
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

apex of abdomen viewed dorso-laterally

cerci, 10th abdominal segment orange

sawsheath (3rd valvula) black, laterally flattened, not bifid cf. fig. 9 from Benson (1938)

tip of projecting saw visible - orange

Creyk Park PW052, Female
sawsheath and apex of abdomen in T. nitidus (9) and T. australis (10) - from Benson (1938), figs. 9, 10
Female
Female

sawsheath and apex of abdomen in T. nitidus (9) and T. australis (10) - from Benson (1938), figs. 9, 10

Female
abdomen viewed from rear after removal from female and treatment with KOH to separate sclerites saw, sawsheath, 10th tergum with attached cerci, 9th and 8th terga visible different from photograph of T. nitidus ovipositor in Fig. 24F, Malagon-A
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

abdomen viewed from rear after removal from female and treatment with KOH to separate sclerites

saw, sawsheath, 10th tergum with attached cerci, 9th and 8th terga visible

different from photograph of T. nitidus ovipositor in Fig. 24F, Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) - see Reference images below.

sawsheath, lance and lancet are shorter than in that photo of the T. nitidus ovipositor

Creyk Park PW052, Female
sawsheath viewed laterally after dissection from body
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

sawsheath viewed laterally after dissection from body

Creyk Park PW052, Female
lancet (saw) dissected from female; with ~16 teeth, cf. fig. 11 from Benson (1938) which shows teeth 8-12 very similar to 1st valvula (lancet) in Fig. 27A of Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) which shows ~16 teeth - see Reference figures below
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

lancet (saw) dissected from female; with ~16 teeth, cf. fig. 11 from Benson (1938) which shows teeth 8-12

very similar to 1st valvula (lancet) in Fig. 27A of Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) which shows ~16 teeth - see Reference figures below

Creyk Park PW052, Female
lancet (saw) dissected from female; with 16 teeth (#15, 16 faint), cf. fig. 11 from Benson (1938) which shows teeth 8-12 very similar to 1st valvula (lancet) in Fig. 27A of Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) which shows ~16 teeth - see Reference figures b
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

lancet (saw) dissected from female; with 16 teeth (#15, 16 faint), cf. fig. 11 from Benson (1938) which shows teeth 8-12

very similar to 1st valvula (lancet) in Fig. 27A of Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) which shows ~16 teeth - see Reference figures below

serrulae (denticles) absent on teeth - listed by Malagon-Aldana as a character state of ovipositor of Trichorhachus sp.

Creyk Park PW052, Female
portion of saw in T. nitidus (11), including teeth 8-12 of total 14 widely spaced teeth and T. australis (12), including teeth 8-16 of total of about 27 teeth, each bearing smaller denticulations - from Benson (1938), figs. 11, 12
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

portion of saw in T. nitidus (11), including teeth 8-12 of total 14 widely spaced teeth and T. australis (12), including teeth 8-16 of total of about 27 teeth, each bearing smaller denticulations - from Benson (1938), figs. 11, 12

Creyk Park PW052, Female
saw (lancet) dissected from female, separated from lance
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

saw (lancet) dissected from female, separated from lance

Creyk Park PW052, Female
lance dissected from female, lancet separated
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

lance dissected from female, lancet separated

Creyk Park PW052, Female
dorsal view of wings: hyaline, stigma and venation brown
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

dorsal view of wings: hyaline, stigma and venation brown

Creyk Park PW052, Female
left forewing: hyaline, stigma and venation brown identical venation to Trichorhachus sp. wing in Fig. 17A, Malagon-Aldana (2021) - see Reference images below
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

left forewing: hyaline, stigma and venation brown

identical venation to Trichorhachus sp. wing in Fig. 17A, Malagon-Aldana (2021) - see Reference images below

Creyk Park PW052, Female
left hind wing; hyaline, venation brown identical venation to Trichorhachus sp. wing in Fig. 17A, Malagon-Aldana (2021) - see Reference images below
Female, Creyk Park PW052
Female, Creyk Park PW052

left hind wing; hyaline, venation brown

identical venation to Trichorhachus sp. wing in Fig. 17A, Malagon-Aldana (2021) - see Reference images below

Female, Creyk Park PW052
ventral view of body mesopleura, mesosternum and venter shiny metallic blue, unpunctured coxae and femora of all legs shiny metallic blue, distal tip of fore femur orange; tibiae and tarsi of all legs orange with distal tips of tarsal segments bl
Female, Creyk Park PW052
Female, Creyk Park PW052

ventral view of body

mesopleura, mesosternum and venter shiny metallic blue, unpunctured

coxae and femora of all legs shiny metallic blue, distal tip of fore femur orange; tibiae and tarsi of all legs orange with distal tips of tarsal segments black

hind basitarsus long than following two tarsal segments; preapical spines on mid and hind tibiae

Female, Creyk Park PW052
hind legs dissected from female (left tibia and tarsus missing); coxae and femora black; apical femur, tibia and tarsi orange; apex of tarsomeres blackish
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

hind legs dissected from female (left tibia and tarsus missing); coxae and femora black; apical femur, tibia and tarsi orange; apex of tarsomeres blackish

Creyk Park PW052, Female
forelegs (LHS) and mid legs (RHS) removed from female (tarsi missing from mid legs) - all femora black with apical tip orange, all tibiae and tarsi orange
Creyk Park PW052, Female
Creyk Park PW052, Female

forelegs (LHS) and mid legs (RHS) removed from female (tarsi missing from mid legs)

- all femora black with apical tip orange, all tibiae and tarsi orange

Creyk Park PW052, Female

Male #PW053 collected on 9th September

Featured
body length 4.8mm antennae 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose; scape black, pedicel blackish-orange; flagellum basal half orange, apical half blackish-orange labrum, inner orbits, genae, mandibles (except for black tips) orange ventral sid
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

body length 4.8mm

antennae 3 segmented, flagellum bifurcated, setose; scape black, pedicel blackish-orange; flagellum basal half orange, apical half blackish-orange

labrum, inner orbits, genae, mandibles (except for black tips) orange

ventral side of thorax and abdomen metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium) of abdomen, unpunctured

legs: coxae, ventral side of all legs black; femora, ventral side of all legs black, apex of fore and mid legs orange, apical ¼ of hind legs orange; tibiae and tarsi of all legs orange, apex of hind tibiae blackish, dorsal side of all tarsi blackish

pre-apical spur on mid and hind tibiae

Male, Creyk Park PW053
body length 4.9mm genae orange, vertex black proboscis shorter than head, glossa shorter than prementum lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen black; tegula blackish-orange; pronotum black with thin posterior orange rim legs: a
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

body length 4.9mm

genae orange, vertex black

proboscis shorter than head, glossa shorter than prementum

lateral side of thorax, mesonotum, scutellum and abdomen black; tegula blackish-orange; pronotum black with thin posterior orange rim

legs: all coxae and femora black, except apex of fore and mid femora orange, apical 1/5th hind femora orange; all tibiae and tarsi orange, tarsi somewhat infuscated, especially in fore legs

Male, Creyk Park PW053
distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance between ocellus and back of head vertex black, genae orange mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured fore wings hyaline, stigma brown, venation dark brown
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

distance between hind ocelli much greater than distance between ocellus and back of head

vertex black, genae orange

mesoscutum, scutellum bright metallic blue, unpunctured

fore wings hyaline, stigma brown, venation dark brown

Male, Creyk Park PW053
anterior abdomen and thorax, viewed dorsally after removal of wings and legs all terga bright metallic blue, except posterior of tergum 1 pale yellow; unpunctured
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

anterior abdomen and thorax, viewed dorsally after removal of wings and legs

all terga bright metallic blue, except posterior of tergum 1 pale yellow; unpunctured

Male, Creyk Park PW053
antennal flagellum bifurcated, setose; orange , blacked distally vertex, face black; ventral half of clypeus, labrum, mandibles, inner orbits, genae orange galea orange, stipes black, palps black; galea shorter than stipes
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

antennal flagellum bifurcated, setose; orange , blacked distally

vertex, face black; ventral half of clypeus, labrum, mandibles, inner orbits, genae orange

galea orange, stipes black, palps black; galea shorter than stipes

Male, Creyk Park PW053
scape black and orange; pedicel orange; flagellum orange face, clypeus black; labrum, mandibles, inner orbits, genae orange galea orange, stipes black, palps black
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

scape black and orange; pedicel orange; flagellum orange

face, clypeus black; labrum, mandibles, inner orbits, genae orange

galea orange, stipes black, palps black

Male, Creyk Park PW053
lateral view of abdomen all segments bright metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium)
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

lateral view of abdomen

all segments bright metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium)

Male, Creyk Park PW053
ventral view of abdomen all segments of venter bright metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium); orange harpe, tongue-shaped cusps used to grip base of female genitalia during copulation, protruding from rear of body
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

ventral view of abdomen

all segments of venter bright metallic blue, except for orange apical segment (hypopygium); orange harpe, tongue-shaped cusps used to grip base of female genitalia during copulation, protruding from rear of body

Male, Creyk Park PW053
genitalia dissected from PW053 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

genitalia dissected from PW053 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021), see Reference images below

Male, Creyk Park PW053
genitalia dissected from PW053 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021)
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

genitalia dissected from PW053 - close similarity to drawing of T. nitidus male genitalia in Fig. 19, D-F Malagon-Aldana et al (2021)

Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male genitalia of Trichorhachus australis - Benson (1938) fig.5
Male
Male

Male genitalia of Trichorhachus australis - Benson (1938) fig.5

Male
penis valve of Trichorhachus australis (2), T. nitidus (3), T. hyalinus (4) - from Benson (1938), figs. 2-4
Male
Male

penis valve of Trichorhachus australis (2), T. nitidus (3), T. hyalinus (4) - from Benson (1938), figs. 2-4

Male
fore wing hyaline; stigma and venation brown
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

fore wing

hyaline; stigma and venation brown

Male, Creyk Park PW053
hind wing hyaline; stigma and venation brown
Male, Creyk Park PW053
Male, Creyk Park PW053

hind wing

hyaline; stigma and venation brown

Male, Creyk Park PW053

The matrix below (click to download a 271KB pdf version) summarises the observations of male and female specimens from Creyk Park and compares them to published descriptions of the 3 known Trichorhachus species.

Conclusions:

Creyk Park female #PW052 and male #PW053 are a good match to published descriptions of the somatic morphology T. nitidus. However the female differs in the morphology of its genitalia to photos of type specimens of T. nitidus in Malagon-Aldana et al (2021) below.

This suggest that Creyk Park females may be an undescribed species of Trichorhachus.

Reference images from literature

References:

Benson, R.B. (1938) Sawflies of the subfamily Trichorhachinae (Argidae) (Hymenoptera, Symphyta). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2:8, 117-122

Malagon-Aldana, L.A. et al. (2021) From Arge to Zenarge: adult morphology and phylogenetics of argid sawflies (Hymenoptera: Argidae). Zoological Journal of Linnean Society 193: 880-938

Malagon-Aldana, L.A. et al. (2022) Sawflies out of Gondwana: phylogenetics and biogeopraphy of Argidae (Hymenoptera). Systematic Entomology 47: 231-258

This is a workbook page … a part of our website where we record the observations and references used in making species identifications. The notes will not necessarily be complete. They are a record for our own use, but we are happy to share this information with others.