Alucita longipenis Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich

Ustjuzhanin, Peter, Kovtunovich, Vasily, Safian, Szabolcs, Maicher, Vincent & Tropek, Robert, 2018, A newly discovered biodiversity hotspot of many-plumed moths in the Mount Cameroon area: first report on species diversity, with description of nine new species (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae), ZooKeys 777, pp. 119-139 : 119

Alucita longipenis Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. n.

Type material.

Holotype, male, (NECJU 201801) CAMEROON, Elephant Camp, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), N4.11700°, E9.07292°, 19-24.XI.2014, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes: 4 males, 2 females (NECJU, CUK) same data as holotype; 1 male (CUK), PlanteCam, 09-14.IV.2015, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek.

Diagnosis.

In the wings’ colour and the male genital structure, the new species is unique, with no analogues among known African Alucitidae . The phallus length, disproportionate in relation to the entire genital structure, distinguishes this species from all the known species of this family.

External characters.

Head with white spiky hairs, thorax, and tegula white with portions of brown strokes. Labial palpus thin, straight, 2 × longer than longitudinal eye diameter; brown on the outside, white on the inside. Third segment thin, narrow, tapered to apex. Antenna white, scape laterally thickened. Wingspan 18-23 mm, of holotype 22 mm. Wings white, with patches of brown strokes and spots. Small, dark brown rectangular spot in basal part of first lobe of fore wing. Larger, pale brown elongated spot with triangle cut in middle part of lobe. Alternating white, pale brown, and dark brown patches in the distal part of the first lobe. Apical part darkened with black scales. Dark brown elongated patches separated by narrow white bands on second lobe. Alternating brown and white elongated portions of scales on other four lobes of fore wing. Lobes of hind wing white, with patches of elongated brown strokes and spots. Fringe on wing pale, between first and second lobe of fore wing fringe with portions of dark brown scales. Abdomen white, with small spots of dark brown scales. Hind leg pale yellow.

Male genitalia.

Uncus long, equally wide along entire length. Gnathos longer than uncus, sharply thickened at end. Gnathos arms narrow, tapered to apices. Valva reduced, poorly expressed. Anellus arms long, narrow, slightly widened at apices. Saccus very long, elongated, smoothly curved in distal part. Phallus extremely long: 5 × longer than the entire genital structure, sharp arched bands in middle part, without cornuti.

Female genitalia.

Papilla analis narrow, elongated. Posterior apophyses straight, thin, long. Anterior apophyses equal in length to posterior apophyses, but slightly thicker and undulated. Antrum narrow, tubulate, length almost equal to posterior apophyses. Ductus corrugated, thin, very long: 4 × longer than antrum. Bursa copulatrix small, oval, barely exceeds length of antrum, without signa.

Distribution.

Cameroon.

Flight period.

April, November.

Etymology.

The species is named after the morphological peculiarity of the phallus; the species name is a noun in apposition.