Alara kershawi ( Muir, 1913 ), 1981

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 25-26

Alara kershawi ( Muir, 1913)

Mecynorhynchus kershawi Muir, 1913: 82 , Pl. II Figs. 1–1a, Pl. III, Fig. 10

Alara kershawi (Muir) Zelazny, 1981: 217

( Fig. 139)

Redescription. Length of forewings about 3.3 mm. Colour red dorsally, light brown underneath; margins of facial carinae and mesonotum reddish brown; antennae bright red, contrasting with the pale brown genae; abdomen bright red. Forewings infuscated; veins reddish brown, bright red near costal and apical margins. Hindwings fuscous; veins reddish brown. Rostrum reaching end of abdomen; antennae elongated. Forewings with Sc+R fork in basal third; Ms branched distad of its middle, bases of Ms1 and Cu1 touching. Male genitalia with pygofer narrow. Genital styles rounded, proximal dorsal process short, distal dorsal process elongated, both processes well separated. Aedeagus short and thick; a small dorsal, tooth-like process on its stem near the middle; apex extending into a short spatulate process.

Etymology. The species was named for J.C. Kershaw, a friend of the author, and ' kershawi ' is a latinized noun used in the genitive case.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (by monotypy) (forewing 3.3 mm, body 1,8 mm), EAST MALAYSIA; labels: 1) Mowong, W. Borneo/ F. Muir, Sept. 1907 2) TYPE OF / Mecyno-/ rhynchus 3) TYPE OF / M. kershawi 4) Mecynorhynchus / kershawi K. +M. ( BPBM #5216).

Note. The original description does not specify the number of specimens studied, but Muir (1915, p. 133) states later that there was only one specimen, here recognized as holotype by monotypy.

Distribution. Borneo. Muir's record of this species from the Philippines ( Muir, 1915, p. 133) is probably erroneous.

Diagnosis. Alara kershawi (Muir) resembles externally A. cranstoni sp. nov., also from Borneo, but has bright red antennae, the dorsal processes of the male aedeagus separated, and a short and thick male aedeagus with a small dorsal, tooth-like process near its middle.