Levu simplissimus Zelazny, 2011

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 50-51

Levu simplissimus Zelazny , sp. nov.

( Fig. 176)

Description. Forewings 1.9 times longer than wide, length: male about 3.4 mm, female about 4,1 mm. Colour stramineous. Forewings white; two faintly infuscated bands across wing, one from first subcostal sector to hindmargin distad of clavus apex, the second along apical cross-veins; veins white to stramineous. Rostrum surpassing post-trochanter; subantennal processes small, connected to margins of facial carinae. Forewings with Sc+R fork well before middle of wing; Ms1 branched in its basal third; Ms1a straight; a triangle at base of Ms1. Male genital styles with proximal dorsal process short, distal dorsal process elongated, both well separated. Aedeagus with apical portion short and broad, narrowing towards the end, the dorsal side concave.

Etymology. The species name is the superlative of the Latin adjective simplus ( simplissimus , -a, -um = very simple).

Type material. Holotype ♂ (forewing 3.4 mm), INDONESIA: WEST PAPUA; labels: 1) NEW GUINEA: NETH./ VOGELKOP: Fak Fak / S. Coast of Bomberai/ 10–100 m, VI-11-'59 2) Palm 3) J.L. Gressitt / Collector ( BPBM) . Paratype. NEW GUINEA, Mt. Suckling , 1000–1400 m, 13. VII.1972, 1 ♀ (fw. 4.1), J.L. Gressitt ( BPBM).

Distribution. Island of New Guinea.

Diagnosis. Levu simplissimus shows similarities with L. erraticus sp. nov., also found in New Guinea, but lacks the bright red mark in front of the eyes. In the forewings Ms1 is branched some distance from the apex of the basal median cell, and the male aedeagus has a shorter apical portion and lacks the dorsal projection on its stem.