Alucita bakweri Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2020

Ustjuzhanin, Peter, Kovtunovich, Vasily, Maicher, Vincent, Safian, Szabolcs, Delabye, Sylvain, Streltzov, Alexander & Tropek, Robert, 2020, Even hotter hotspot: description of seven new species of many-plumed moths (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae) from Mount Cameroon, ZooKeys 935, pp. 103-119 : 103

Alucita bakweri Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov. Figs 2 , 3

Type material.

Holotype • 1 male, (NECJU 201901) Cameroon, PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 11-18.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek.

Diagnosis.

In the yellowish colour of its wings, this species resembles Alucita ferruginea Walsingham, 1881, Alucita balioxantha (Meyrick, 1921), and Alucita compsoxantha (Meyrick, 1924), from which it differs in the structure of male genitalia. Genitalia of the new species differ from A. balioxantha by a thin sharp gnathos, prolonged saccus, and short, wide and wing-like valvae (Fig. 19 ). Alucita balioxantha gnathos is wider, with a blunt and round top, the saccus is archlike and not prolonged, and valvae are thin and lancet-like. In the shape of the uncus and gnathos of the male genitalia, A. bakweri is similar to A. ferruginea , from which it differs in having an elongated, narrowing saccus without the distinct notch on its outer edge. Additionally, unlike A. ferruginea , A. bakweri has clusters of small acicular cornuti apically on the aedaeagus. Moreover, its valvae are short, wide and wing-like, with a bundle of thin needle-like cornuti in its apical part. Whilst male genitalia of the new species have a forked uncus and comparatively short aedeagus, A. compsoxantha has a simple short uncus and a very long aedeagus.

External characters.

Wingspan 18 mm. Head with white scales, thorax and tegulae yellowish-brown. Labial palpus yellow, thin, straight, twice as long as longitudinal eye diameter. Third segment discrete, directed forward, median part framed by brown lines, apically pale and sharp. Antenna white, basally thickened. Wings yellowish-brown, with four white transverse lines. Wings basally darkened with brown scales. Abdomen yellowish-brown. Hind leg pale yellow.

Male genitalia.

Uncus long, distally widened, apically with triangle notch. Gnathos narrow, apically tapered, in length equal to uncus. Gnathos arms short, thick, smoothly bent inwards. Valves short, wide, wing-shaped, apically with bundle of fine acicular setae. Anellus arms wide, short. Saccus elongated, narrow triangular. Aedeagus almost straight, with an elongated uncinate cornutus in middle, groups of fine acicular cornuti distally, and narrow sharp cornuti sticking out apically.

Distribution.

Cameroon.

Flight period.

December.

Etymology.

We name the species after the Bakweri people, the main ethnic group of the Mount Cameroon region. Without the priceless assistance of numerous local people our project would not be possible. We hope such dedication will encourage protection of the species’ habitats.

Figures

Figures 2, 3. Alucita bakweri Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 2 adult male, Holotype, NEJCU 3 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201901. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Figures 19 - 24. Comparative illustrations of other Alucita species mentioned in the new species' diagnoses 19 A. balioxantha (Meyrick, 1921), type, male genitalia 20 A. tesserata (Meyrick, 1918), type, male genitalia 21 A. rhaptica (Meyrick, 1920), female genitalia 22 A. compsoxantha (Meyrick, 1924), type, female genitalia 23 A. chloracta (Meyrick, 1908), type, adult female 24 A. chloracta, type, female genitalia.