Levu pudens Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 49

Levu pudens Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 173)

Description. Forewings 2.1 times longer than wide, length: male 2.9–3.4 mm (mean = 3.1, n= 6), female 3.4–4.1 mm (mean = 3.8, n= 3). Colour stramineous; in most specimens (including holotype), a small red dot above eyes; margins of facial carinae in front of eyes orange-brown. Forewings white, powdered; veins white, but in apical fifth stramineous. Rostrum surpassing post trochanter; subantennal process connected to margins of facial carinae. Forewings with Sc+R fork before middle of wing; Ms1 branched at the end of its basal quarter; a triangle at base of Ms1. Male genital styles oval; both dorsal processes short and broad, separated by a small gap. Apical part of aedeagus broad and blunt; on the right side, a flat, dorsal lobe.

Etymology. The species name is a Latin adjective ( pudens = modest) which remains unchanged in all gender forms.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 3.1 mm), SOLOMON ISL.; labels: 1) SOLOMON IS./ GUADALCA- NAL: Tamba-/lia, 35 km W. Honiara / 30 m, 20–25.V.1964 2) J.&M. Sedlacek / Light trap / BISHOP ( BPBM) . Paratypes. SOLOMON ISL.: Guadalcanal: Roroni , 35 km E of Honiara, 10 m, 12. V.1964, 1 ♂ (fw. 3.1) , R. Straatman; Suta ( Suta - Gold Ridge ) Jonapau Mt. , 1000 m, 29. VI.1956, 1 ♀ (fw. 4.1) , J.L. Gressitt; Tambalia , 30 km W. Honiara, 27. V.1964, 1 ♂ (fw. 2.9) , J. Sedlacek; Behind Tenamba, 2–15 km, 7.X.1957, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.8), J.L. Gressitt; Florida Isl., Nggela Isl., Haleta , 0–250m, 6+ 12.X.1964, 2 ♂ (fw. 3.3, 3.4) , R. Straatman; NW Malaita, Dala , 6. VI. 1964, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.4) , R. Straatman; Malaita, Auki-Tangtalan , 25–200 m, 23.IX.1957, 1 ♂ (fw. 3.0) , J.L. Gressitt (all BPBM) .

Distribution. Solomon Islands.

Diagnosis. Levu pudens shows similarities to L. vitiensis Kirkaldy , which is also found in the Solomons. It can be distinguished from that species by the white forewings (not seen in L. vitiensis from the Solomon Isl.), and by the short and broad distal dorsal process of the male genital styles.