66 M. W. NIELSON 



Tharra solomonensis sp. n. 



(Text-figs i59- l6 3) 



Length: $ 4-40-4-70 mm, $ 5-10-5-60 mm. 



General colour ochraceous, elytra fuscous except for clavus, which is either ivory or 

 ochraceous ; sexual dimorphism apparent. Crown ochraceous in $, ochraceous in $ with some 

 fuscous spots; pronotum ochraceous along middle, lateral angles fuscous; scutellum ochraceous, 

 lateral angles fuscous ; elytra with clavus ochraceous in ^, ochraceous to ivory in $ with fuscous 

 markings, remainder of elytra fuscous throughout in <$, fuscous with numerous ochraceous 

 spots in 5, clypeus ochraceous in g, ochraceous in <j> with fuscous bands posteriorly and 

 anteriorly; clypellus ochraceous in <J, fuscous in §. 



Head narrower than pronotum; crown long and narrow, produced distally beyond anterior 

 margin of eyes, distal length about one-third entire median length, striate radially, deeply 

 depressed along middle, lateral margins somewhat carinate and slightly convergent basally; 

 ocelli large, situated anteriorly; eyes large, occupying nearly two-thirds entire dorsal area of 

 head ; pronotum short, median length less than median length of crown, surface finely knobbed ; 

 scutellum moderate size, median length slightly greater than median length of pronotum; 

 elytra elongate, veins prominent, appendix well developed, venation as in description of genus; 

 clypeus elongate, broad anteriorly, somewhat tapered posteriorly, lateral margins distinctly 

 excised at antennal sockets, median longitudinal carina absent in q, faintly present in §, 

 surface finely granulose, rugulose along anterior margin; clypellus with lateral margins broadly 

 concave. 



Male pygofer in lateral aspect with long, narrow process arising from caudoventral margin, 

 process somewhat sinuate and irregularly curved, aperturized apically with several striations 

 at apex; aedeagus in lateral aspect with dorsal appendage very broad throughout, somewhat 

 sinuate, apex slightly curved dorsad; dorsal appendage with ventral apical flange; ventral 

 appendage very long, needle-like, apex basad of apex of dorsal appendage; gonopore apical; 

 connective Y-shaped; style hooked apically; plate with distal appendage short and extremely 

 broad, almost subquadrate. 



Female seventh sternum with posterior margin somewhat truncate. 



Specimens examined. 



Holotype <$, Solomon Is.: Rennell I., Hutuna, 8.xi.i953 (/. D. Bradley) (BMNH, 

 London) . 



Paratypes. Solomon Is.: allotype $, same data as holotype (BMNH, London); 



2 (J, 2 $, same data as holotype, in author's collection; Rennell I., Hutuna, 20 <$, 



3 $, 8.VL1953 (/. D. Bradley); Rennell I., Teuhungano, 40 <J, 1 $, 14.x. 1953 (/. D. 

 Bradley); Rennell I., Tigoa, 2 <$, 3 $, 9-n.xi.1953 (/. D. Bradley); Rennell I., 

 Kasipa Hill, 300ft, 1 $, 29.X.1953 (/. D. Bradley); Rennell I., Niupani, 2 $, 

 22. xi. 1953 (/. D. Bradley); Bellona I., Matahenua, 1 £, 29-30. xi. 1953 (J. D. Bradley); 

 Malaita, Sikana I., 1 $, 3 $, 10.vi.1963 (M. McQuillan); Isabel, Tasia, 1 $, 20.1.1955 

 (M. McQuillan); Kolombangara, Pepele, 30m, 1 $, 3 $, 13. ii. 1964 (T. Shanahan) 

 (BPBM, Honolulu); Nupani, Reef I., 2 $, 8.V.1933 (M. Willows, Jr) (CAS, San 

 Francisco); Rennell I., Teuhungano, 1^,1$, 14X.1953 (/. D. Bradley) (USNM, 

 Washington). New Hebrides: Malekula, 2 $, i. 1930 (L. E. Cheesman); Espiritu 

 Santo, Hog Harbor, 1 9, viii. 1925 (P. A. Buxton) (BMNH, London); Efate I., 

 Beach, 1 $, 2311.1964 (R. Straatman); Espiritu Santo I., 15km N.E. Luganville, 

 2 9, 1 1. hi. 1964 (R. Straatman) (BPBM, Honolulu). Bismarck Archipelago: 

 Mussau, Bollu, 1 £, 4.VL1962 (Noona Dan Expedition '61-62) (UZM, Copenhagen); 

 Manus I., Lorengau, 1-75 m, 1 $, 28. vi. 1959 (/. L. Gressitt); Manus I., Momote, 



