Levu pallescens ( Metcalf, 1946 ), 1956

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 39

Levu pallescens ( Metcalf, 1946)

Muiralyricen pallescens Metcalf, 1946: 116 , Fig. 7

Levu pallescens (Metcalf) Fennah, 1956a: 177

( Fig. 156)

Additional description. Forewings 1.9 times longer than wide, length: male 2.8–3.2 mm (mean = 3.0, n= 4), female 3.2–3.7 mm (mean = 3.4, n= 4). Colour stramineous; forewings heavily powdered, white, clouded with light infuscations; darker dots at R-Rs1 and M-Ms4 forks; apical halves of costal margin and last two costal sectors faintly orange. Subantennal processes connected to margins of facial carinae. Rostrum surpassing hindcoxae. Male genitalia like in Levu samoensis Muir ; tip of aedeagus pointed.

Etymology. The species name is a Latin participle ( pallescens = pale) which remains unchanged in all gender forms.

Type material. Holotype, ♂ (forewing 2.8 mm) GUAM ISL., labels: 1) Orote , pt./ 9-1-1936 Guam 2) O.H. Swezey / Collector 3 ) Holotype 4) Muiralyricen / pallescens/ Det. Z.P.M. Metc. ( BPBM #5378 A) .

Other material examined. GUAM: 1 ♀ and 1 sex unknown (paratypes of L. pallescens, BPBM ); Mt. Alifan , 27.VI.1936, VIII.1952 , 2 ♀, O.H. Swezey, N.L.H. Krauss; Mt. Lamlam , 400 m, 27.XI.1952 , 1 ♂ 1 ♀, J.L. Gressitt; Ritidian Pt., 1.VIII.1945, X.1952, 2 ♀, Gressitt, Krauss; Talofofo , VIII.1952 , 1 ♂, Krauss (all BPBM). YAP ISL.: Yaptown , 13. VII.1946 , 1 ♂, H.K. Townes ( USNM) .

Distribution. Guam and Yap Islands.

Diagnosis. Levu pallescens is indistinguishable externally from Levu samoensis Muir from Samoa. The males can be recognized by the pointed tip of the aedeagus.