Oteana tiare sp. nov.

(figs 22–28)

Description

Body length.

Male. 6.5–7.4 mm (n=11). Female. 6.6 – 7.0 mm (n=2).

Coloration.

Area of vertex, areolets, and frons dark brown, carinae of head stramineous. Fenestrae distinctly colored: a central dark brown spot, surrounded by a lighter fringe. Postclypeus yellowish­orange in male and in female. Pronotum as in O. euphranor . Mesonotum in males dark brown, blackish, longitudinal carinae slightly lighter, in females areas enclosed by lateral carinae on each side stramineous, distinctly contrasting, so that the mesonotum appears longitudinally striped. Venation of tegmina dark brown throughout.

Proportions and carination of head and thorax as well as spinulation of hind legs as described for the genus.

Male genital complex (figs 22–28)

Genital segment (figs 22, 23) bilaterally asymmetrical: dorsolateral angle of subrectangular lobe acute on the left side (fig. 22, arrow), rounded on the right side; medioventral process dorsally ridged. Anal segment (figs 24, 25) slightly asymmetrical. Parameres (fig. 26): distal portion in lateral aspect duckbill­shaped, directed basomediad. Aedeagus (figs 27, 28): shaft ventrally with 2 long, conspicuous spinose processes and 2 minute inconspicuous spines, dorsally with one small, tooth­like spine (fig. 28, arrow), inserting at the transition shaft/flagellum. Long, ventral shaft spines (a1, a3) compressed, taeniform, subapically slightly dilated, almost rectangularly bent laterad to right side, each bearing a small inconspicuous spine (a2, a4: fig. 27, arrow) near its base. Apical (a5) and subapical (a6) spines more or less equally long, arising from a long common base, in repose curved laterobasad. Flagellum in repose not reaching base of shaft, distal flagellum spine (b1) conspicuously sclerotized, acute, directed straight laterad to the left side. Sclerotized ridge of flagellum at midlength produced into a short vestigial spine.

Etymology

Named for Tiare, the most famous flower of Tahiti, Gardenia taitensis (Rubiaceae) .

Distribution

Endemic to Tahiti (Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti).

Ecology

On native vegetation including Weinmannia parviflora (Cunoniaceae), Metrosideros collina (Myrtaceae), Myrsine spec . ( Myrsinaceae). From 560–1600 m.

Remarks

Oteana tiare differs from all other Oteana species by the yellowish­orange postclypeus and the spine configuration of the aedeagus.

Type material

Holotype ɗ, Society Islands: Tahiti I., Taiarapu: above Vaiufaufa [Tahiti Iti], 900 m, 3.VII.1977, at light, S.L. Montogomery, BPBM (type nr 16620).

Paratypes. Tahiti Iti. 4 ɗ, same data as holotype; 1 ɗ, Society Arch.: Tahiti I., Vaiufaufa viewpoint, 560 m, 7. IX. 1988, at MV light, S.L. Montgomery & B.H. Gagné, BPBM. Tahiti Nui. Mt. Marau. 1 ɗ, Society Is.: Tahiti I.: Mt. Marau, 1490 m, on Myrsine, 29.VI.1977, W.C.Gagné, BPBM Acc.Nr. 1977.361; 1 ɗ, Society Is.: Tahiti I., Mt. Marau, 1300–1400 m, ex Myrsine, 28.VIII.1984, G. Paulay, BPBM; 1 ɗ, Society Islands: Tahiti I., Mt. Marau, 1430 m, 13.IX.2004, ex Weinmannia, “*17JG”, D. M. Percy, BPBM; Mt. Aorai . 1 ɗ, Society Is.: Tahiti I., Mt. Aorai Trail, ca. 600–1200 m, 14.IV.1999, M. Asche & H.. Hoch, MNHN; 1 ɗ, Society Is.: Tahiti I., Mt. Aorai Trail, 1400 –1600 m, 12.V.1999, M. Asche, MNHN; 2 ɗ, Society Is.: Tahiti I., Mt. Aorai Trail, 1400 –1600 m, 12.V.1999, M. Asche, AH.