74 
Records of the Australian Museum (2009) Vol. 61 
Taxonomy 
Genus Gnathothlibus Wallengren, 1858 
Type species: Gnathothlibus erotoides Wallengren, 1858. 
Gnathothlibus fijiensis n.sp. 
Figs 1-4, 14 
Type material. Holotype 6 , FIJI: 3 km E of Komave, south 
coast ofViti Levu, 18°13’36.2"S 177°46'25.7"E, 16 April 
2008, R.B. Lachlan, AM K266025. Paratypes 9c3 6 , 2 $ $: 
166 with same data as holotype but 2 dated 8 April 2008 in 
RBLC, 1 (AM K266026) dated 9 April 2008,1 dated 13 April 
2008,1 dated 15 April 2008,1 dated 16 April 2008 and 1 dated 
7 December 2008 in RBLC. 26 6 H. Phillips, Vunidawa, Fiji, 
18.8.1932, Lautoka, Fiji, 19.6.27, H. Phillips in AM. 2$ $ 
with same data as holotype, 1 dated 16 April 2008 in RBLC, 
1 (AM K266027) dated 6 December 2008 in AM. 
Diagnosis. In male, olive green ground colour on forewings. 
Ventral surface of head, thorax and abdomen olive green. 
Mauve lateral stripe on the outer edges of the tegulae above 
both wings. A prominent dark, mostly straight, post median 
line runs from costa, where it is curved slightly distally, 
to inner margin. Female forewings brown with prominent 
dark, mostly straight, post median line as in male. Genitalia 
with uncus, in lateral view, long, slender, parallel-sided 
for nearly the whole of its length, slightly arched with the 
distal margin slightly convex and slightly angled backwards 
dorsally with a small dorsal crest. The distal margin has a 
small, dark ventral tooth. 
Description. Male. (Figs 1,2,14). Antennae creamy-brown 
above, dark brown below; palpi olive green above, contrast¬ 
ing off white below; dorsal surface of head and prothorax 
darker olive green, remainder of thorax and abdomen 
uniform olive green; small dark median spot with poste¬ 
rolateral orange-brown on pro thorax; thin lateral creamy- 
olive stripe from base of antennae to forewing, continuing 
as mauve on the outer edges of the tegulae above both 
wings. Thorax ventrally with creamy, light brown patch 
immediately posterior to palpi, remainder of median band 
creamy-olive along thorax dissipating as it reaches upper 
abdominal segments. Abdominal segments laterally each 
with orange-brown posterior margin contrasting with olive 
green ground colour, abdomen with four small lateral black 
spots surrounded clearly by white. Fore-tibae covered in long 
creamy-olive hair scales; proximal three segments of fore¬ 
tarsi covered in shorter creamy-olive hair scales, shortest on 
distal segment, longest on proximal segment. 
Forewing upperside as in Fig. L Forewing length 38-41 
mm, mean 39.6 mm (n = 7). Ground colour olive green 
(brighter in fresh specimens) with darker markings; some 
specimens exhibit less green; small black stigma with light 
coloured centre at end of discal cell; irregular, oblique, 
submarginal dark line from costa to vein M 3 , wider between 
veins M 2 and M 3 ; a prominent dark, mostly straight, post 
median line runs from costa, where it is curved slightly 
distally, to inner margin; a short, irregular, subbasal band 
edged on each side by dark lines and curved distally, runs 
from costa to the dark basal patch below vein 1A+2A. 
Forewing underside as in Fig. 2. Ground colour burnt orange, 
lighter basad with two short, antemedian orange-brown 
streaks near costa and one near base; distally darker brown 
with usually two dark, irregular, parallel post median lines 
from costa to vein M x ; these lines may be vestigial or well 
developed in some specimens. 
Hindwing upperside as in Fig. 1; ground colour orange; 
a slightly variable dark brown terminal band from apex to 
tornus at least 2 mm wide, slightly thinner at apex; inner 
margin of band slightly irregular with brown scales along 
veins M, to M 3 for about 2 mm. Hindwing underside (Fig. 
2) with ground colour light orange-brown, heavily speckled 
with dark brown; marginal area darker from apex to tornus; 
dark, mostly straight, median line, thickest at costa, curving 
proximad from costa to vein M, and usually reaching vein 
CuAj but does not touch distal edge of cell; a much less 
prominent, small, parallel dark post median line to vein R s , 
vestigial in most specimens. 
Male genitalia (Fig. 14). Uncus in lateral view, long, 
slender, parallel-sided for nearly the whole of its length, 
slightly arched, distal margin slightly convex and slightly 
angled backwards dorsally with small rounded dorsal crest, 
distal margin with, dark ventral tooth; gnathos in lateral 
view thin, straight, distal margin tapering to a small, slightly 
upturned point; in dorsal view gnathos is wide basally with 
slightly curved sides tapering evenly to a point; valvae dorsal 
margin straight proximally then slightly convex, then distally 
straight, distal margin rounded, ventral margin gently convex; 
sacculus process well developed; harpe robust, distal end 
smooth surfaced and spine-like, upturned; aedeagus in lateral 
view with distal end tapered to a bluntly rounded apex with 
backward directed dorsal fishhook-like barb, ventrally with 
a small, similar barb, a little proximad of dorsal barb. 
Female (Figs 3-4). Fore wing length 40-44 mm. Head 
and tegulae dark brown. Median area of thorax and abdomen 
above medium brown. Thin lateral cream stripe from base 
of antenna to posterior edge of tegula above hindwing, not 
mauve as in male. Thorax below uniform orange-brown; 
abdomen ventrally pale pinkish-brown with four well-devel¬ 
oped lateral white spots with small black centres. Fore-tibae 
covered in short hair scales, light brown on anterior edge and 
cream on posterior edge; fore-tarsi without hair scales. 
Forewing upperside as in Fig. 3; ground colour and pattern 
in shades of darkish-brown, lacking green colour of male; 
small dark brown stigma with light centre at end of discal 
cell; a prominent dark brown, almost straight, post median 
line runs from costa and curved slightly distally to inner 
margin as in male. Forewing underside as in Fig. 4; ground 
colour medium brown, distinctly speckled with dark brown 
distally; a dark brown irregular, submarginal line runs from 
apex to tornus; two variable dark brown parallel post median 
lines from costa often reaching vein CuA 2 . 
Hindwing upperside (Fig. 3) orange as in male, but dark 
brown terminal band broader, with inner margin generally 
quite straight and suffused with orange scales; hindwing 
underside (Fig. 4) ground colour same as forewing but more 
heavily speckled with dark brown; yellowish streak along 
proximal side of vein 1A+2A. 
Etymology. The specific nam e fijiensis is derived from the 
Pacific island nation of Fiji, the only known locality for the 
species. 
Distribution. At present G. fijiensis is known only from the 
main island ofViti Levu, Fiji. 
