Alara cheesmani Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 19-20

Alara cheesmani Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 129)

Description. Forewings 2.0 times longer than wide, length 2.9–3.1 mm (mean for male = 3.0, n= 3; female about 2.9). Colour stramineous, mesonotum light brown, margins of facial carinae above eyes reddish brown, fore tarsi and abdomen red but genital styles stramineous. Forewings infuscated, slightly lighter near apex and in a band across its middle. Antennae elongated; rostrum reaching end of abdomen. Forewings with Sc+R fork in basal third; Ms1 branched just distad of its middle; base of Ms1 touching Cu1. Male genitalia with pygofer narrow. Genital styles broad, rounded; bases of dorsal processes connected on the outside by a thin plate, slightly separated at the inside. Aedeagus short; apical part tapering towards the end which is slightly turned to the left; a small dorsal hump on the right side.

Etymology. The species is named for the collector and ' cheesmani ' is a latinized noun used in the genitive case.

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 3.1 mm, body 1.6 mm), PAPUA NEW GUINEA; labels: 1) PAPUA: Kokoda / 1200 ft. V 1933 / L.E. Cheesman / B.M. 1933-427 ( BMNH) . Paratypes. Same data as holotype 2 ♂ (fw. 2x2.9) 2 ♀ (fw. 2.9) ( BMNH) .

Distribution. New Guinea (Papua).

Diagnosis. Alara cheesmani resembles A. fulva Zelazny and A. castanea Zelazny from the Philippines, as well as A. cultellus sp. nov., also from New Guinea. It cannot be separated reliably from them externally because of the frequent colour variation of these species. The male genitalia are most similar to those of A. fulva , but can be distinguished by the apical part of the male aedeagus tapering to a rounded tip.