Alucita janeceki 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 janeceki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. n.

Type material.

Holotype, male, (NECJU 201807) CAMEROON, Bamboo Camp, 350 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), N4.08791°, E9.05051°, 17-23.IV.2015, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female (NECJU, CUK), same data as holotype; 1 male (CUK), Drinking Gari, 11-23.IV.2015, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek.

Diagnosis.

The wings colour and the absence of the valva in the male genitalia of the new species is similar to A. fokami . In the male genitalia, A. janeceki is characterised by the oval saccus, the long uncus slightly tapered to apex, the long and wide phallus without a large needle-shaped cornutus. In the female genitalia, the new species is characterised by the oval bursa copulatrix with the ductus seminalis inside, and by the very long posterior apophyses.

External characters.

Head, thorax and tegula yellowish white, interspersed with fine brown scales. Labial palpus white, 2 × longer than eye diameter, slightly bent upwards. Third segment thin, tapered to apex. Antenna pale brown. Wingspan 10-12 mm, of holotype 12 mm. Wing greyish white. Wing base darkened with brown scales. Well expressed elongated brown strokes separated by yellowish portions on first lobe. Apical part of lobe brown, sharp. Second and other lobes repeat the pattern of first but with less contrast. Fringe on wing with alternating pale and brown hairs. Hind leg pale yellow.

Male genitalia.

Uncus very long, distally wide, apically slightly tapered. Gnathos not expressed. Valva reduced. Anellus arms straight, wide, twice as short as uncus. Saccus oval. Phallus long and wide, 1.5 × longer than uncus, almost straight, medially and distally with clusters of small spiny cornuti.

Female genitalia.

Papilla analis narrow, elongated. Posterior apophyses very long, thin. Anterior apophyses straight, very long, equal to posterior apophyses. Antrum short, V-shaped. Ductus wide, corrugated, with longitudinal cords and clusters of small signa. Ductus seminalis inside bursa copulatrix, long, distally widened. Bursa copulatrix big, oval, with impregnation of small spiny signa.

Distribution.

Cameroon.

Flight period.

April.

Etymology.

The species is named after Dr. Štěpán Janeček, an experienced botanist who accompanied all our field expeditions and crucially helped us with many things, including the collection of a substantial part of the presented specimens.