Levu rufigena Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 50

Levu rufigena Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 174)

Description. Forewings 2.1 times longer than wide, length: male about 2.5 mm, female about 3.1 mm. Colour stramineous to light brown; a bright red mark in front of eyes. Forewings white, powdered; a dark mark at M-Ms4 fork; in paratype (but not in holotype) faint infuscation around first subcostal sector and some part near hind margin; veins white to stramineous. Rostrum surpassing post-trochanter; subantennal processes connected to margins of facial carinae. Forewings with Sc+R fork before middle of wing; Ms1 branched just distad of apex of basal median cell, a small triangle at base of Ms1; (the left, but not the right forewing of the holotype shows an abnormal venation in that the bases of Ms2 and Ms3 are merged, Fig. 174f). Male genital styles slightly truncated at the end; proximal dorsal process short, distal dorsal process elongated, both well separated. Aedeagus with apical portion broad, tapering towards end; on the right side, a flat, dorsal lobe.

Etymology. The species name is a Latin noun ( rufigena = a red cheek) used in apposition.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 2.5 mm), SOLOMON ISL.; labels: 1) SOLOMON IS./ MALAITA: Dala , 50 m / 15–19.VI.1964 2) R. Straatman/ Collector/ BISHOP ( BPBM) . Paratype. SOLOMON ISL., Malaita, Auki , 0–100m, XII.1975, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.1), N.L.H. Krauss ( BPBM).

Distribution. Solomon Islands.

Diagnosis. Levu rufigena shows similarities to L. vitiensis Kirkaldy , L. psittacus sp. nov., and L. shanahani sp. nov., all three also found in the Solomons. It can be recognized by its small size and the conspicuous red mark in front of the eyes.