Alucita tanzanica Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2018

Ustjuzhanin, Pеtеr, Kovtunovich, Vasiliy & Ustjuzhanina, Anna, 2018, New species of many-plumed moths (Lepidoptera: Alucitidae) from Tanzania, Zootaxa 4438 (1), pp. 167-175 : 174-175

Alucita tanzanica Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov.

( Figs 9–11 ).

Diagnosis. In the external characters of the adults and in the genital structure, A. tanzanica is similar to A. certifica ( Meyrick 1909) . In the female genitalia, the new species differs from A. certifica by the goblet-shaped antrum, by the anterior apophyses which are longer than posterior ones, also by the rounded swelling on the ductus and the distally widened bursa copulatrix; while in A. certifica the antrum is funnel-shaped, the posterior and anterior apophyses are equal in length, the swelling on the ductus is oval and elongated, the bursa copulatrix is narrow, elongated and not widened basally. In the male genitalia, these species differ by the apically widened uncus and by the long aedeagus which is 1,5 times longer than the entire genitalia in A. tanzanica , and by the apically narrow uncus and the aedeagus equal in length to the entire genital structure, in A. certifica .

Description. Adult. Head, thorax and tegulae white. Antenna yellowish-brown. Labial palpus wide at base, narrow to apex, two times bigger than longitudinal eye diameter, brown on external side, white on inner side. Wingspan 9–10 mm (holotype 9 mm). Wing white. Wide pale brown streaks medially and distally on fore and hind wing. Small dark spot of scales on apex of each lobe of fore and hind wing. Fringe on wings with white and yellowish hair-like scales. Hind leg white.

Male genitalia. Uncus short, slightly widened distally, with a small notch on posterior margin. Gnathos narrow, slightly curved, apically tapered, noticeably longer than uncus. Gnathos arms slightly curved. Valva rather long, narrow, poorly sclerotized. Anellus arms short, wide. Saccus basally wide, rounded. aedeagus narrow, straight, 1,5 times longer than entire genitalia, basally and medially with small needle-shaped cornuti.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis narrow, elongated. Posterior apophyses thin, straight, anterior apophyses significantly longer than posterior ones. Antrum wide, goblet-shaped. Rounded sclerotized swelling at confluence of ductus to antrum, ductus smoothly passing to elongated bursa copulatrix, bursa slightly widened distally. Signa absent.

Type material. Holotype: male, Tanzania Arumeru Distr., Mt. Meru For. Res. 9 km NNЕ Olmotonyu, 2500 m, 8.ii.1992, L. Aarvik ( NHMO 2903 ) ; Paratypes: 1 ♀, Tanzania, Arumeru Distr. , Usa River, 1170 m, 12.ii.1992, L. Aarvik (CUK 313) ; 1 ♀, Tanzania, Arumeru Distr. , Usa River, 1170 m, 11.ix.1991, L. Aarvik ( NHMO 2904 ) .

Etymology. Toponymic name.

Distribution. Tanzania.

Figures

FIGURES 9–11. Alucita tanzanica Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov. 9. Adult (Holotype, NHMO); 10. Male genitalia (Holotype, NHMO 2903); 11. Female genitalia (Paratype, NHMO 2904).