DIAGNOSIS: Body almost entirely light yellow, abdominal tergites I–IV slightly darker; frons white, pollinose. Wing hyaline. Pseudovibrissae stout, laterally flattened, slightly scalelike. Arista with 5 dorsal and 2 ventral branches. Best distinguished from similar yellow and light brown species by male terminalia: Each cercus with long, thick seta at apex of ventral margin; cercus anteriorly (underneath) with row of 7–8 short setae. Surstylus long, curved and arched, apically pointed, with very sparse setulae and microtrichia. Aedeagus short (without visible trunk), membranous, spiculed.

TYPES: Holotype, male (not dissected), FIJI: Taveuni, Cakaudrove Prov., 5.3 km SE Tavuki Vlg. [Village], Mt. Devo, 1064 m, 3–20.XII.2002, Malaise 3. Coll. Schlinger, Tokota’a. 16.841 ° S, 179.968 ° W, FBA 153797. ThL 5 1.55 mm; Wing W /L 50.36; L r-m / L between r-m and m-cu 5 0.33. In BPBM. Paratypes: 1 male (no. 55 [150902] dissected), 5 females, all Taveuni: Cakaudrove, 5.6 km SE Tavuki Vlg., Mt. Devo, 892–1187 m, 30. VI – 14. VIII, 2004, Malaise 1, 3, 4; Schlinger and Tokota’a, 16.843 ° S, 179.966 ° W, FBA 149851, 149860, 150903, 151943, 154918, 154919. In BPBM and AMNH. Genitalia of the holotype are well displayed, confirming that this specimen and the dissected paratype are the same species.

ETYMOLOGY: From the French, sylphe, meaning a fairylike spirit of the air, in reference to the pale body coloration of this little fly.