(Figs. 1–5)
Homothyrea inornatipennis Gahan, 1903: 269. Type locality: ‘Sokotra: Hadibu plain’.
Published record. Sokotra, 10.16 Dec. [18]98, Hadibu plain, W. R. O.Grant, Lectotype, BMNH (ANTOINE 1993).
Material examined (112 adult specimens). Yemen, Soqotra Is., 22.xi.2003, ca 20–170m, Suq, E env. – sand dune, N12°40′02′′ E54°03′45′′ (GPS), David Král lgt., Yemen – Soqotra 2003 Expedition; Jan Farkač, Petr Kabátek & David Král, 2 spec. in NMPC; Yemen, Soqotra Is., 5.–6.xii. 2003, Noged plain, Qaareh (waterfall), 57 m, N12°20′10′′ E 53°37′56′′ (GPS), David Král lgt., Yemen – Soqotra 2003 Expedition; Jan Farkač, Petr Kabátek & David Král, 3 spec. in NMPC; same data but Jan Farkač lgt., 1 spec. in NMPC; Yemen, Soqotra Is., 5.–6.xii. 2003, Noged plain (sand dunes), 11 m, N12°21′09′′ E54°01′47′′ (GPS), David Král lgt., Yemen – Soqotra 2003 Expedition; Jan Farkač, Petr Kabátek & David Král, 18 spec. in NMPC; same data but Jan Farkač lgt., 26 spec. in CULS, 23 spec. in NMPC; same data but Petr Kabátek lgt., 18 spec. in NMPC; Yemen, Soqotra Is., 6.–7.xii.2003, Noged plain, Wadi Ireeh, 95 m, N12°23′11′′ E53°59′47′′ (GPS), David Král lgt., Yemen – Soqotra 2003 Expedition; Jan Farkač, Petr Kabátek & David Král, 9 spec. in NMPC; Yemen, Soqotra Is., 9.xii.2003, Qalansiyah env., Ditwah (lagoon), 23m, N12°41′42′′ E 53°30′08′′ (GPS), David Král lgt., Yemen – Soqotra 2003 Expedition; Jan Farkač, Petr Kabátek & David Král, 5 spec. in NMPC; Yemen, Socotra Island, 10.–11.xi.2010, Noged plain (sand dunes), Sharet Halma vill. env., 12°21.9′N, 54°05.3′E, 20 m, Jan Batelka leg., 26 spec. in JBCP; same data but Jan Bezděk leg., 2 spec. in NMPC; same data but Jiří Hájek leg., 7 spec. in NMPC.
Natural history. This species is probably associated with sandy habitats, including sand dunes. The above material was taken predominantly from flowers of Asteraceae, trees and shrubs of Adenium Roemer & Schultes, Tamarix Linnaeus and Mimosoideae (formerly referred to as genus Acacia Miller).
Distribution. Endemic to the Socotra Island, see map on Fig. 1.
Remark. Old records of Homothyrea helenae from the Socotra Island (WATERHOUSE 1881, TASCHENBERG 1883) are most likely related to H. inornatipennis. These records come from the time when H. inornatipennis had not yet been described and more recent records (MIKŠIĆ 1982, SMETANA 2006) only seem to repeat the older sources.