Alucita sokolovi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2024

Ustjuzhanin, Peter, Kovtunovich, Vasily, Delabye, Sylvain, Maicher, Vincent, Safian, Szabolcs, Streltzov, Alexander & Tropek, Robert, 2024, Magnifying the hotspot: descriptions of nine new species of many-plumed moths (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae), with an identification key to all species known from Cameroon, ZooKeys 1193, pp. 25-48 : 25

Alucita sokolovi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov.

Figs 18 , 19

Type material.

Holotype • ♂, (NECJU 230709), Cameroon, Mann’s Spring, 2200 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1428°N, 9.1225°E, 16-21. IV. 2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye. Paratypes • 2 ♂, (NECJU, CUK), Cameroon, Crater Lake, 1500 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1443°N, 9.0717°E, 17-25. II. 2017, lgt. P. Potocký, Sz. Sáfián, R. Tropek, J. Mertens, Š. Janeček • 1 ♂, (CUK), Cameroon, Mapanja, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1157°N, 9.1315°E, 13.V.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye.

Differential diagnosis.

The wing colour of this species slightly resembles Alucita jana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2020, but it can be distinguished by the widened distal band on the fore wing, whereas in A. jana it narrows at the fourth-fifth lobe. Additionally, A. sokolovi has a band in the medial portion of the wing, which is absent in A. jana . The labial palpi of the new species are 3 × longer than the longitudinal eye diameter, compared to only 1.5 × in A. jana . In the male genitalia, the structure of the aedeagus and the shape of the gnathos of A. sokolovi slightly resemble Alucita bokwango Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2020. However, A. sokolovi can be differentiated by its uncus, which is widened on the top, and the wide oval apical portions of the valves, while in A. bokwango the uncus is narrow throughout its length, and the valves’ apices are less widened.

External characters.

The head has white shiny scales. The thorax and tegulae are covered with pale brown clinging scales. The labial palpi are wide, long, ~ 3 × as long as the longitudinal eye diameter, white inside and brown outside. The third segment is isolated and apically acute. The antennae are yellowish brown, and the scape is wide and flattened. The wingspan is 17-18 mm (holotype 17 mm), and the wings are pale brown. There are two clearly expressed wide brown bands on the fore wings, distally and basally. The fore wings are apically framed with a white subapical zigzag. The hind wings are noticeably paler than the fore wings, with a brown band widening towards the last three lobes. There are bundles of brown hairs on the lobes, both distally and basally, with white fringes between them. The hind legs are pale yellow.

Male genitalia.

The uncus is long, noticeably exceeding the gnathos in length, and is distally slightly widened with a small apical notch. The gnathos is narrow and apically acute. The valves are long and membranous, apically smoothly forming a wide oval shape. The anellus arms are thin and straight. The saccus is caudally oval. The aedeagus is short, almost straight, and has two spiky cornuti.

Distribution.

The species was found in Cameroon only.

Flight period.

The species was collected in February, April, and May.

Etymology.

The new species is named after Vasily Igorevich Sokolov (Moscow, Russia), the famous Russian ichthyologist and bioresource recovery specialist.

Figures

Figures 18, 19. Alucita sokolovi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 18 adult male, holotype, NECJU 19 male genitalia and structures of the segment VIII of the male abdomen, holotype, NEJCU, preparation slide no. 230709. Scale bar: 5 mm.