Alucita agassizi 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 : 169-170

Alucita agassizi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov.

( Figs 1, 2 )

Diagnosis.The new species is similar to A. acalyptra ( Meyrick, 1913) by the mottled grey color of the wings with contrast zigzag streaks, but both species differ in their genital structures: in the new species, the bursa copulatrix is bean-shaped, without signa, while in A. acalyptra , the bursa is elongated, oval, with a constriction of needle-shaped signa in the middle. The ductus in new species is narrowed in the middle, has a similarity to that of A. atomoclasta ( Meyrick, 1934) , but the new species differs by the absence of numerous small signa throughout the entire surface of the bursa copulatrix and also by the wide ductus, the oval bursa and the cup-like antrum.

Description. Adult. Head, thorax and tegula with greyish-white scales. Antenna dark grey. Labial palpus grey, with white scales on the inner side, 2,5 times longer than longitudinal eye diameter, third segment separated, slightly directed upwards. Wingspan 12 mm. Wings grey with alternating portions of white scales, which gives a mottled color. Pale zigzag band on outer edge of both wings. Small dark spot of scales on apex of each lobe.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis elongated, narrow-triangle. Anterior and posterior apophyses thin, straight, equal in length. Antrum cup-like. Ductus wide, sclerotized, narrowing in middle part with distinct inflation beyond it, forms a membranous tubulate structure with inflated proximal part. Bursa copulatrix oval, without signa.

Type material. Holotype: female. Tanzania, Tanga Е Usambaras Sigi River , 2000 ft., 15.viii.2000, D. Agassiz ( BMNH 29792 ).

Etymology. The species is named after Dr. David Agassiz (London, UK), an entomologist, specialist in Microlepidoptera.

Distribution. Tanzania.

Figures

FIGURES 1, 2. Alucita agassizi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov. 1. Adult (Holotype, BMNH); 2. Female genitalia (Holotype, BMNH 29792).