Enithares gibbera Brooks

(Figs. 64, 65)

Enithares gibbera Brooks 1948: 51 .

Material examined. SOLOMON ISLANDS: Guadalcanal Prov.: 9 males, 8 females, Guadalcanal, Charebuma River, above Gold Ridge mine, 390– 460 m ., water temp. 23.5° C., 3 August 2005, 11:00–15:00 hrs. 9°36′00′′S, 160°07′23′′E, CL 7421, D. A. Polhemus (USNM, BPBM). Western Prov.: 1 male, 3 females, Kolombangara Is., Vila River, 8.5 km. N. of Ringgi harbor, standing pool in forest, 150 m ., 8°02′39′′S, 157°07′16′′E, water temp. 24° C., 20 March 2005, 10:00–13:00 hrs., CL 7397, D. A. Polhemus (USNM, BPBM) ; 1 male, 1 female, 1 immature, Rendova Is., upper trib. to Toropi River at road crossing 5.5 km. SE of Kenole, 230– 250 m ., 8°30′30′′S, 157°18′45′′E, water temp. 26° C., 21 March 2005, 11:30–15:00 hrs. CL 7399, D. A. Polhemus (USNM, BPBM) .

Malaita Prov.: 1 female, 5 immatures, Malaita Is., Kwarea River at high bridge on road from Auki to Atori, 85 m., 8°39′10′′S, 160°45′33′′E, water temp. 25.5° C., 29 July 2005, 13:30–16:00 hrs., R. L. Englund (BPBM) .

Discussion. In addition to its distinctive genitalic structures (Fig. 65), E. gibbera may be easily recognized without resorting to dissection by the concave basal tarsal segment on the male foreleg (Fig. 64).

Ecological notes. This species is endemic to the Solomon Islands, and was previously recorded from the islands of Guadalcanal and Makira (Brooks 1948, Lansbury 1968). Additional records are now provided for the islands of Kolombongara, Rendova and Malaita, as well as a further record for Guadalcanal. It is likely that this species occurs on all of the large, high islands in the Solomons archipelago. A more extensive discussion of the sites at which this species was collected can be found in D. Polhemus et al. (2008).