Alucita sroczki 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 sroczki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov.

Figs 3-5

Type material.

Holotype • ♂, (NECJU 230702), Cameroon, Bamboo Camp, 350 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.0879°N, 9.0505°E, 17-23.IV.2015, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes • 4 ex., (NECJU, CUK) same data as holotype • 3 ex., (NECJU, CUK), 11-23.IV.2015, same data as holotype • 5 ex., (NECJU, CUK), Cameroon, PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 09-14.IV.2015, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 7 ex., (NECJU, CUK), Cameroon, Crater Lake, 1500 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1443°N, 9.0717°E, 23-29.IV.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye • 8 ex., (NECJU, CUK), 17-25.II.2017, lgt. P. Potocký, Sz. Sáfián, J. Mertens, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 1 ♂, (CUK), Cameroon, Mapanja, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1157°N, 9.1315°E, 23-28.X.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, S. Delabye.

Differential diagnosis.

Alucita sroczki shares a mottled greyish brown wing colouration with Alucita seychellensis (T.B. Fletcher 1910) (illustrated in Ustjuzhanin and Kovtunovich 2016) and Alucita megaphimus (Hering, 1917) (Figs 6-8 ). However, it can be distinguished from these species by the darkened terminal band present on all wings and by its larger size. The most reliable distinguishing feature lies in the male genital structure. While the general structure of the male genitalia is reminiscent of A. seychellensis , A. sroczki has narrower valves, a shorter gnathos, and a set of complex sacculus structures with serrated spiky forms, as well as a narrower aedeagus. In the female genitalia, the new species differs from A. seychellensis and A. megaphimus in the deep V-shaped notch on the outer edge of the antrum.

External characters.

The head, thorax, and tegulae are covered with clinging grey-brown hairs. Labial palpi are dark-grey and measure 2.5-3 × the longitudinal eye diameter. The third segment is thin, long, and belted basally and apically with narrow white scales. The antennae are dark brown. The wingspan ranges from 16 to 20 mm (holotype 18 mm). All wings exhibit a greyish brown colouration, with four and six distinct pale transverse zigzag bands on the fore wing and hind wing, respectively. The wings are noticeably darkened distally. The fringe on the lobes of all wings features alternating portions of pale yellow and dark brown hairs. The hind legs are pale yellow.

Male genitalia.

The uncus is simple, long, and medially narrowing, with a widened distal end that bears a small notch. The gnathos is slightly shorter than the uncus and narrow, tapering to an acute apex. The gnathos arms are short and wide. The valves are simple and short, measuring half the length of the uncus. The distal portion of the sacculus is expanded as a forked structure. The outer portion of this fork is narrower, internally serrated and terminating in an acute and slightly inwardly bent apex. The inner portion of the fork is wider and finger-like, also serrated on the inside. The basal portion of the sacculus is wide, with a globular sclerotised formation covered with tiny sharp needles. The anellus arms are long, equal in length to the gnathos, and wide at the base, gradually narrowing. The saccus is slightly elongated and caudally rounded. The aedeagus is straight, basally widened, and 1.5 × longer than the uncus. The cornutus is needle-like, distinctive, and occupies most of the aedeagus.

Female genitalia.

The papillae anales are narrow and elongated. The posterior apophyses are long and thin, approximately equal in length to the anterior apophyses. The antrum is tubulate and sclerotised, with a narrow V-shaped notch on the outer edge. The ductus is very short, slightly shorter than the antrum, and the ductus seminalis passes from the confluence of the ductus into the bursa. The bursa is oval and very large, featuring two narrow ribbon-like signa.

Distribution.

The species was found in Cameroon only.

Flight period.

The species was sampled in April and October.

Etymology.

The species name is a noun in apposition. It is named in honour of the curators from NECJU, Ewelina Sroka and Karolina Sroka, who crucially contributed to the processing of the abundant moth material collected on Mount Cameroon and several other Afrotropical localities. The name ’sroczki’ refers to the nickname commonly used for the twin sisters.

Note.

Previously, Ustjuzhanin and Kovtunovich (2017) erroneously synonymised A. megaphimus with A. seychellensis . Later, PU and VK re-examined their characters in more detail, and therefore we consider Alucita megaphimus (Hering, 1917), stat. rev., as a separate species.

Figures

Figures 3 - 5. Alucita sroczki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 3 adult male, holotype, NECJU 4 male genitalia, holotype, NEJCU, preparation slide no. 230702 5 female genitalia, paratype, NEJCU, preparation slide no. 230703. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Figures 6 - 8. Alucita megaphimus (Hering, 1917), stat. rev. 6 adult female 7 male genitalia 8 female genitalia. Scale bar: 5 mm.