Alucita jana 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 jana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov. Figs 4 , 5

Type material.

Holotype • male, (NECJU 201902) Cameroon, PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 09-14.IV.2015, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes • 1 male, (CUK), Ekonjo, 1150 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.0881°N, 9.1168°E, 24.X.2017, lgt.V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye • 1 male, (CUK), Mapanja camp, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1157°N, 9.1315°E, 25.X.2017, V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar in the shape of the uncus and valves of the male genitalia to Alucita tesserata (Meyrick, 1918) (Fig. 20 ), but it differs in the apically narrow gnathos and the presence of a group of fine acicular cornuti in the aedeagus. Alucita jana also differs from A. tesserata in the wing colouration.

External characters.

Wingspan 15 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae with brown appressed scales. Labial palpus wide, short, 1.5 longer than longitudinal eye diameter, slightly bent upwards, brown scaled inside and outside. Third segment discrete, apically sharp. Antenna yellowish-brown. Wings yellowish-brown, distinctive pale brown band medially. Forewings show a dark brown postmedial band. Forewing basally with dark brown scales, hindwing basally light. Distally, alternating portions of brown and yellowish scales. Fringe of wings yellow, with alternating portions of brown hairs. Hind leg pale yellow.

Male genitalia.

Uncus long, apically slightly widened. Gnathos long, distally widened, apically slightly tapered, equal to uncus in length. Valve short, finger-like, membranous. Anellus arms narrow, long, apically slightly widened. Saccus with oval outer edge. Aedeagus straight, basally widened, apically with a group of fine acicular cornuti.

Distribution.

Cameroon.

Flight period.

April, October.

Etymology.

The species name is a noun in apposition in honour to Robert Tropek’s mother, Jana Tropková.

Figures

Figures 4, 5. Alucita jana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 4 adult male, Holotype, NEJCU 5 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201902. 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.