Rhotanella thyrsis Fennah, 1970

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 117

Rhotanella thyrsis Fennah, 1970

Rhotanella thyrsis Fennah 1970: 68–69 , Figs. 81–87

( Fig. 258)

Additional description. Forewings 1.9 times longer than wide, length: male 3.5–4.1 mm (mean = 3.8, n = 3), female about 3.4 mm. Colour stramineous to light brown; mesonotum lighter, but tip of scutellum light brown; middle femora with longitudinal red stripes; forewings with a red mark at the base of C covering in length the basal three-quarters and in width the anterior half of the basal costal cell; first subcostal sector light brown. Genital styles with dorsal processes short and separated. Apical part of aedeagus short, ending in two pointed processes.

Etymology. In his description Fennah did not explain the origin of the name ' thyrsis ' and the word is not listed in Latin dictionaries as an adjective. We, therefore, consider it to be a noun (with the original spelling to be retained in all gender cases), following article 31.2.2 of the Code.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 4.1 mm), PAPUA NEW GUINEA, labels: 1) PAPUA: Kokoda 2000 ft VIII 1933, C.E. Cheesman B.M. 1983-427 ( BMNH).

Other material examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PAPUA: Finschhafen , IV.1944, 1 ♂ , F.E. Skinner; (NE), nr. Busu R., NE of Lae, Sangeman Village , 25 m, 30.VIII.1957, 1 ♂ , D. Elmo Hardy, light trap; Daradae Pl'n , 500m, 80 km N. to Port Moresby, 7.IX.1959, 1 ♂ , T. C. Maa, sweeping; NW, Lae, Singnawa R., 147° 10' E, 6° 45' S, 30 m, 4.IV.1966, 1 ♀ , O. R. Wilkes, light trap (all BPBM) .

Distribution. Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands (see Fennah, 1970).

Diagnosis. Rhotanella thyrsis Fennah is similar to R. sophiae sp. nov., also from New Guinea. It can be recognized by the forewings lacking light dots along the veins, bearing a row of infuscated spots before the apical margin, and by the light brown first subcostal sector. The dorsal processes of the male genital styles are separated, and the pointed processes on the apical part of the aedeagus are shorter than in R. sophiae .