Levu knighti Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 46-47

Levu knighti Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 169)

Description. Forewings 2.3 times longer than wide, length: male 3.0– 3.6 mm (mean = 3.3, n= 6), female 2.9–3.8 mm (mean = 3.3, n= 4). Colour stramineous to light brown; a conspicuous orange-red longitudinal stripe on frons and clypeus; middle of pronotum orange-red; a small, faintly red mark above eyes. Forewings white, powdered; in most specimens (but not in holotype) faint infuscation around first subcostal sector and distad of clavus tip. Rostrum surpassing post-trochanter; subantennal processes connected to margins of facial carinae. Forewings with Sc+R fork before middle of wing; Ms1 branched just distad of apex of basal median cell, a triangle at base of Ms1. Male genital styles oval; proximal dorsal process short, distal dorsal process elongated, both well separated. Aedeagus with stem widening just before apical part; apical portion broad, tapering towards its end, on the right side, a flat, dorsal lobe.

Etymology. The species is named for W.J. Knight who worked at the British Museum and made important contributions to the knowledge of the Auchenorrhyncha and ' knighti ' is a latinized noun used in the genitive case.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 3.2 mm), SOLOMON ISL.; labels: 1) SOLOMON IS./ SANTA YSA- BEL: SE/ Tatamba, 0–50m./ 1.IX.1964 2) R. Straatman/ Light Trap / BISHOP ( BPBM) . Paratypes. SOLOMON ISL.: Choiseul Isl. : Kitipi R., 80 m, 13. III.1964, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.4) , P. Shanahan, Malaise trap; Malangona , 10 m, 8. III.1964, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.2) , P. Shanahan, Malaise trap; Bougainville (S.): Borioko, 300 m, 6. VI.1956, 1 ♀ (fw. 2.9) , J.L. Gressitt; Kokure , nr. Crown Prince Rd., 900 m, 9+ 10. VI.1956, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (fw. 3.8) , J.L. Gressitt; New Georgia Group : Kolombangara: Sandfly Harbor , 2m, 9. VII.1964, 1 ♀ (fw. 3.6) , J.+M. Sedlacek, Malaise trap; Pepele, 30 m, 9+ 13.II.1964, 2 ♂ (fw. 3.6), P. Shanahan, M. T.; Gizo Isl. , 1–100 m, 12. VII.1959, 1 ♂ (fw. 3.0) , J.L. Gressitt; Vella Lavella, Pusisana, 17+ 18.XI.1963, 2 ♂ (fw. 3.0, 3.2), P. Shanahan, Malaise trap (all BPBM) .

Distribution. Solomon Islands.

Diagnosis. Levu knighti is characterized by the orange-red stripe along frons and clypeus, and by the nearly colourless forewings.