Alara Distant

Zelazny, B. & Webb, M. D., 2011, 3071, Zootaxa 3071, pp. 1-307 : 16

Genus Alara Distant

Alara Distant, 1911: 643 . Type species: Alara dux Distant, 1911 , by monotypy.

Mecynorhynchus Muir, 1913: 82 . Type species: Mecynorhynchus kershawi Muir, 1913 , by original designation, synonymised by Zelazny, 1981: 216

Diagnosis. The species of Alara Distant can be recognized by the combination of the following characters:

1. Forewings elongated, oval in shape and often infuscated. In live specimens (6 species observed) the wing surfaces form a common plane (see Figs. 3, 5, 6).

2. Forewings with five broad costal cells, usually gradually decreasing in length towards the apex.

3. The Sc+R fork is located in the basal third of the forewings. There is usually no triangle at the base of Ms1.

4. Ms1 is often branched distad of its middle.

5. Cu1 is usually connected to Ms1 by a crossvein or, less commonly, both veins merge for a short section.

6. The antennae are usually more elongated than in other genera of the Rhotanini .

7. The rostrum is long, usually reaching the middle or end of the abdomen.

Gender. Distant did not explain the origin of the name ' Alara '. The origin seems to be a local female first name because the genus was described by Distant together with the genus Sumangala another female first name in the Indian region. Alara should be considered to be feminine, following article 30.2.4 of the Code.

Distribution. The distribution of the genus is shown in Figure 119 and Table 2. Most species of this genus are found in New Guinea (10), the Philippines (7) and Borneo (6).

Grouping. The species of Alara are mainly characterized by different colourations and the structure of their male genitalia. While some species are obviously closely related, grouping the species appears not to be possible for the large majority without the help of a molecular phylogenetic analysis.