Levu vitiensis Kirkaldy, 1906

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 51-52

Levu vitiensis Kirkaldy, 1906

Levu vitiensis Kirkaldy, 1906: 434

( Fig. 178)

Redescription. Forewings 1.9 to 2.1 times longer than wide, length: male 2.8–4.1 mm (mean = 3.4, n= 53), female 3.0– 4.8 mm (mean = 3.7, n= 83). Colour stramineous (lectotype) . In some specimens margins of facial carinae in front of eyes lightly orange, in others a red, orange, or orange-brown mark in front of eyes or antennae. Few specimens (from the Solomon Isl. and Australia) with an additional light orange or red mark above the eyes. Forewings white, powdered. In most specimens (including lectotype) light brown marks around R-Rs1 and M-Ms4 forks, and faintly infuscated areas around Ms 1 fork and around last subcostal sector. Forewings rarely all white or with more wide-spread and stronger infuscations. In most specimens (including lectotype) veins white, but light brown near apical margin and in most of the faintly infuscated areas. Rarely most veins light brown, orange-brown or light orange-red. Rostrum reaching abdomen; subantennal processes connected to margins of facial carinae. Forewings with Sc + R fork before middle of wing; Ms 1 branched in its basal quarter. A cross-vein at base of M forms a triangle which may, however, be faint (like in lectotype) . Male genital styles oval; proximal dorsal process short, distal dorsal process elongated and finger-like. In few specimens from Fiji (including lectotype) distal dorsal process almost as short as proximal dorsal process. Apical part of aedeagus tapering towards end; on the right side, a dorsal lobe, which may only reach the middle of the apical portion, or may almost reach its tip (like in the lectotype).

Etymology. Derived from the Fijian island of Viti Levu , the latinized species name ( vitiensis , -iensis, -iense) is an adjective.

Type material. Lectotype ♂ (here designated) (forewing 3.1 mm), FIJI ISL.; labels: 1) Fiji Is. /3-1905 2) Coll. Koebele 3) Type of/ vitiensis/ Kirk. 4) Levu / vitiensis/ Kirk./ 657 ( BPBM #5212 ).

Note. Kirkaldy described this species from an unspecified number of specimens from " Viti Isles". As he did not indicate how many specimens he studied we designate the only available syntype as lectotype.

Other material examined. FIJI ISL.: Viti Levu Isl. : Lami, 1920, 1921, IV– V.1951, III.1955, XI.1957, 1. III.1971, III., XII.1978, 9 ♂ 18 ♀, C.E. Pemberton, N.L.H. Krauss; Koronivia Res Sta., 1. III.1963, 2 ♂ 4 ♀, C.M. Yoshimoto; Tholo-i-Suva, IX.1950, III.1951, I.1955, 1 ♂ 3 ♀, N.L.H. Krauss; Colo-i-Suva, 3–6. III.1963, 4 ♂ 1 ♀, C.M. Yoshimoto; Nr. Nayavu, III.1951, 2 ♀, N.H.L. Krauss; Suva, II.1972, 1 ♀, N.H.L. Krauss; Belt Road, 16–18 mi. W. of Suva, 22. VII.1938, 1 ♂, E.C. Zimmerman; Lantoka Mts., 11.IV., 22. VII.1920, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, W. Greenwood; Nausori, V.1921, 1 ♂ 3 ♀, R. Veitch; Natova, 21.XII.1916, 3 ♀, R. Veitch; Cuvu, 10. VI.1921, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, W. Greenwood; Loloti, 18.IX., 19.XII.1920, 1 ♂ 4 ♀, W. Greenwood; Labasa, VII., IX., XII.1921, VII.1922, 5 ♂, R. Veitch; Rewa, XII.1905, 1 ♀, F. Muir; Tamavau, 17.II.1922, 1 ♂, H.W. Sinimanth; 2–10 km S. Nandarivatu, 600–700 m, 4.VIII.1979, 2 ♀, G.M. Nishida; Vanua Levu Isl. : Nakawanga, 3–9.X.1955, 4 ♂ 3 ♀, G.L. Gressitt; Navakuru to Nakawanga, 7.X.1955, 1 ♀, J.L. Gressitt; E. of Lambasa, near Gelemumu, 6.X.1955, A.M. 1 ♀, J.L. Gressitt, Decaspermum fruticosum; Batiri, forest SE of road, 100 m, 13.X.1979, 1 ♂, S.N. Lal, G.A. + S.L. Samuelson; Taveuni Isl.: Waiyevo, 0–100m, I.1972, 5 ♀, N.L.H. Krauss; no data (among Fiji material), 3 ♂ 4 ♀; Ovalau Isl.: Levuka, 0–200 m, XII.1978, 1 ♀, Krauss; VANUATU ISL.: Espiritu Santo Isl.: ( SW) above Namatasopa, 400 m, 30+ 31.VIII.1957, 1 ♂ 4 ♀, J.L. Gressitt; below Namatasopa, 250 m, 1.IX.1957, 1 ♀, J.L. Gressitt; hill E. of Luganville, 100 m, 10.IX.1957, 1 ♂, J.L. Gressitt, Macaranga; Narango, 90 m, VII.1960, 1 ♀, W.W. Brandt; Efate Isl.: ( NW), Maat (Mat. Ambryn Vill.), 3 m, 15.VIII.1957, 1 ♂, J.L. Gressitt; ( NW), Limestone Plateau, N. of Maat, 100 m, 17–20.VIII.1957, 3 ♂ 5 ♀, J.L. Gressitt; ( SW), coast, 3 m, 13.VIII.1957, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, J.L. Gressitt, Flagellaria and Acalypha (?); Emae Isl.: Mt. Tavani Talimasa, 200–400 m, 30.VIII.1979, 1 ♂, W.C. Gagné, Araceae vine; Futuna Isl.: 600 m, 24.VIII.1979, 1 ♂, Gagné, Cyrtandra; Tanna Isl.: 2 km S Ipenkeul, 25–300m, 23.VIII.1979, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, G.A. Samuelson and Gagné, sweeping and Pipturus ; SOLOMON ISL.: Malaita, E. of Kwalo (E. of Auki), 350 m, 28.IX.1957, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, J.L. Gressitt; Bougainville, Boku, 5. VI.1956, 1 ♂, J.L. Gressitt; Gizo Isl.: 0–100m, XII.1976, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Krauss; NEW CALEDONIA: Ile des Pins, Point SW of Kuto, near beach, 0–5 m, 17.VIII.1979, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Samuelson (all BPBM); AUSTRALIA: N. South Wales: Colo Vale, 6., 15. III.1957, 2 ♂ 1 ♀, W.W. Wirth ( USNM); East Lind field near Sydney, 28.II.1971, 3 ♂ 3 ♀, J.M. Fletcher; Pearl Beach, near Woy Woy, 6.X.1973, 5 ♀ 1 sex unknown (all ASCU); Queensland: Tambourine Mts., 18–25. V.1935, 1 ♂, R.E. Turner; Kuranda, V.1904, 1 ♂ 1 ♀, F.P. Dodd (all BMNH).

Distribution. Fiji Isl., Vanuatu Isl., Solomon Isl., New Caledonia, Australia (Queensland and New South Wales).

Discussion. It is concluded that Levu vitiensis is a wide-spread, common species, which shows considerable variation in its coloration (especially in its Fijian population) and to a lesser extent in the structure of its male genitalia. The most common form has a uniformly stramineous colour and is characterized by white forewings with few, faintly infuscated patches, faint marks around the apical forks of R and M, as well as by white to light-brown veins. However, forms with lighter and darker forewings, with coloured forewing veins and with red or orange marks on the head can be found. In view of the many intermediate colour forms, they are not considered to belong to different species. The male genitalia also show some variation, namely in the length of the distal dorsal process (this process is unusually short in the lectotype) and in the length of the right dorsal lobe of the aedeagus.