Rhotana mendax Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 101

Rhotana mendax Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 246)

Description. Forewings 2.0 times longer than wide, length about 4.8 mm. Colour stramineous to light brown. Forewings very faintly yellowish, slightly darker across first and 4th subcostal sector; apical cross-veins between Cu and Ms1a lined with short stripes of infuscation, which are somewhat irregular in outline; veins stramineous to light brown or tinted with orange. Hindwings colourless. Carinae of vertex and face well separated; rostrum just surpassing hind coxae; subantennal processes and lateral carinae of pronotum well developed. Forewings with apex of Sc nearly straight; Sc+R fork before middle of wing; Ms1 branching near apex of basal median cell; a triangle at base of Ms1. Male genitalia with pygofer narrow. Aedeagus stem with a short dorsal projection; apical part flat, with a dorsal longitudinal groove, which is overlapped by a flat process, originating from the right side, in dorsal view its end is truncated, bearing several minute teeth.

Etymology. The species name is a Latin adjective ( mendax = deceptive) which remains unchanged in all gen- der forms.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 4.8 mm), AUSTRALIA; labels: 1) Cairns, Q. / Austr. 8 1904 ( BPBM) . Paratype. Same date as holotype 1 ♀ (fw. 4.9) ( BPBM) .

Note. The paratype bears a label reading "Type of chrysonoe Kirk. " However from Kirkaldy's description it is clear that it shows no relationship to Rhotana chrysonoe Kirkaldy , now Saccharodite chrysonoe (Kirkaldy) , see that species.

Distribution. Australia (Queensland).

Diagnosis. Rhotana mendax shows similarities to R. ramentosa Distant , also from Australia, and to R. lalage Fennah from New Caledonia. It can be separated from R. ramentosa by the small marks on the forewings between the tip of Cu and the middle of Ms1a, as well as by the flat, truncated process on the right side of the apical part of the aedeagus. It can be distinguished from R. lalage by the lack of orange coloration and the number, shape and position of the dark forewing marks.