Rhotana semiopalina Muir, 1926

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 103

Rhotana semiopalina Muir, 1926

Rhotana semiopalina Muir, 1926b: 403

( Figs. 31, 76, 77, 249)

Redescription. Forewings 2.0 times longer than wide, length in male 4.4–5.1 mm (mean = 4.8, n= 17) in female about 4.8 mm. Colour stramineous; facial carinae above eyes, centre of pronotum, and mesonotum light brown; abdominal tergites, dorsal part of pygofer, and anal segment orange-red; dorsal margins and tips of genital styles infuscated. Basal half of forewings infuscated, but costal areas lighter; a very narrow, but clearly defined band of dark infuscation lining apical crossveins; a short, infuscated (sometimes prominent) band across basal cell between Ms2 and Ms3; veins orange-red, becoming paler near apical margin. Hindwings lightly infuscated in basal threequarters; apical quarter colourless, but veins accompanied by narrow bands of infuscation; a not clearly defined slightly darker mark between bases of Ms1 and Ms2; veins orange-red. Facial carinae contiguous up to lower margins of eyes; rostrum reaching hind coxae; subantennal processes and lateral carinae of pronotum well developed. Forewings with apical part of Sc slightly sinuate; third subcostal sector missing in holotype and in about half of the other specimens examined, present in the remaining specimens, but sometimes faint; Sc+R fork at the end of basal third of wing; Ms1 branched just distad of its basal quarter, Ms1b merging with apical part of Cu1 for a short section; a small triangle at base of Ms1. Pygofer of male genitalia with prominent, pointed lateral projections. Genital styles elongated and triangular in outline; proximal dorsal process small hook-like, distal dorsal process elongated. Aedeagus elongated; apical part with a terminal pointed process directed ventrad.

Etymology. We consider the species name to be a latinized adjective (semiopalinus, -a, -um = semi-opalescent).

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 4.9 mm, body 3.0 mm), INDONESIA: MENTAWAI ISL.; labels: 1) Holotype 2) H.H. Karny/ Mentawei/ Sipora 172/ 11.X.1924 3) Ex F.M.S./ Museum/ B.M. 1955-354 4) Rhotana / semiopalina Muir / ♂ ( BMNH).

Other material examined. JAVA, 1 ♂ , no other data; MALAYSIA: NORTH BORNEO: Tawau, Quoin Hill , Cocoa Res. Station , 15–20 . VII, 5–24.IX.1962, 6 ♂ , Y. Hirashima, Malaise and light trap; Kalabakan, primary forest, 10.XI.1958, 1 ♂, T.C. Maa; Gunong Matang, 120 m, 13.IX.1958, 1 ♂ , T.C. Maa + J.L. Gressitt (all BPBM); Sandakan, 7 ♂ 1 ♀ , Baker ( USNM) .

Distribution. Borneo, Java, Mentawai Isl. (off Sumatra).

Diagnosis. Rhotana semiopalina Muir can be easily recognized by two distinct characters: (1) the dark and narrow infuscation lining the apical cross-veins on the forewings, and (2) the elongated, triangular-shaped outline of the male genital styles.