Levu candidus Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 43

Levu candidus Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 161)

Description. Forewings 2.0 times longer than wide, length in male 4.2–4.7 mm (mean = 4.4., n= 7), in female about 4.7 mm. Colour stramineous to light brown; faintly orange in front of the eyes; fore tibiae faintly grey. Forewings white, heavily powdered. Rostrum surpassing hind-coxae; subantennal processes connected to margins of facial carinae. Forewings with Sc+R fork well before middle of wing; Ms1 branched just distad of apex of basal median cell; a triangle at base of Ms1. Male anal segment with short lateral processes. Genital styles elongated, slightly truncated at the end; proximal dorsal process short, distal dorsal process elongated. Aedeagus stem produced dorsally, just before apical portion; apical part elongated, tapering towards the end; on the right dorsal side, two small lobes.

Etymology. The species name is a Latin adjective ( candidus , -a, -um = brightly white).

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 4.4 mm), PAPUA NEW GUINEA; labels: 1) NEW GUINEA: NE / W. Highlands: Hagen / SE of Kornfarm / Oct. 15, 1958 2) Pipturus 3) J.L. Gressitt / Collector ( BPBM) . Paratypes. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: ( NE): Karimi, South of Goroka , 1000 m, 6. VI .1961, 1 ♀ (fw. 4.7), J.L.+M. Gressitt; Tapibagor, upper Jimmi V ., 1400m, 19. VII .1955, 2 ♂ (fw. 4.6, 4.7), J.L. Gressitt; East Highlands, Aiyura , 1800 m, 10.I.1964, 1 ♂ (fw. 4.5), R . Straatman; Kassam, 1350 m, 48 km, E. of Kainantu , 30.X.1959, 1 ♂ (fw. 4.3), T . C. Maa; Wau, 1300 m, 16. VI .1961, 1 ♂ (fw. 4.2), J.+M. Sedlacek; Auga Gorge, E. of Mendi , 14.X.1958, 1 ♂ (fw. 4.2), J.L. Gressitt (all BPBM) .

Distribution. New Guinea.

Diagnosis. Levu candidus shows similarities to L. echinus sp. nov., also from New Guinea, but is larger and lacks the orange tinge on the fore and middle tibiae. The males can be further identified by the apical portion of the aedeagus having two small lobes which do not bear any fine, terminal spines.