Levu kirkaldyi Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 46

Levu kirkaldyi Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 168)

Description. Forewings 2.1 times longer than wide, length: male 2.8–3.4 mm, female 3.2–3.4 mm. Colour stramineous to light brown; facial carinae in front and above eyes bright orange. Forewings white, powdered; dark marks around first subcostal sector and M-Ms4 fork; fainter infuscations distad of clavus tip, around base of Ms1, along apical cross-veins and along apical margin; veins white, but cross-vein between Cu and Cu1 as well as veins around base of Ms1 bright orange; in most specimens (including holotype) anterior apical cross-veins only tinted with orange, but in one specimen bright orange, including the adjoining sections of Sc and R as well as most parts of M. Subantennal process connected to margins of facial carinae. Forewings with Sc+R fork near middle of wing; Ms1 branched in its basal quarter, a triangle at base of Ms1. Male genital styles oval; proximal dorsal process short, distal dorsal process elongated, both well separated. Aedeagus with apical portion broad, tapering towards the end; on the right side, a flat, dorsal lobe.

Etymology. The species is named for George Willis Kirkaldy (1873-1910) who made important contributions to the knowledge of the Auchenorrhyncha and ' kirkaldyi ' is a latinized noun used in the genitive case.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 3.4 mm), SOLOMON ISL.; labels: 1) SOLOMON IS./ CHOISEUL I./ Kolombangara R./ 80m. 20. III.'64 2) P.S 3) Malaise Trap / BISHOP ( BPBM) . Paratypes. SOLOMON ISL.: Santa Ysabel, SE, Tatamba , 0–50m, 5.IX.1964, 1 ♂ (fw. 2.8) , R. Straatman, light trap; Malaita, Auki-Tangtalau , 25– 200m, 23.IX.1957, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.4), J.L. Gressitt; NW Malaita, Dala, 8. VI.1964, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.2) , R. Straatman, Malaise trap (all BPBM) .

Distribution. Solomon Islands.

Diagnosis. Levu kirkaldyi 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 the orange facial carinae and by some of the forewing veins being bright orange.