Alucita fako 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 fako Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov.

Figs 9-11

Type material.

Holotype • ♂, (NECJU 230704), Cameroon, Ekonjo, 1150 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.0881°N, 9.1168°E, 25.X.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, S. Delabye. Paratypes • 1 ♀, (NECJU 230705), Cameroon, Bamboo Camp, 350 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.0879°N, 9.0505°E, 12 -20.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek.

• 1 ♀, (NECJU), same data as holotype • 3 ♀, (NECJU, CUK), Cameroon, PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 11-18.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 4 ♀, (NECJU, CUK), Cameroon, Elephant Camp, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1170°N, 9.0729°E, 19-24.XI.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 1 ♀, (NECJU), Ekonjo, 1150 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.0881°N, 9.1168°E, 24.X.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, S. Delabye • 1 ♀, (CUK), Crater Lake, 1500 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon, 4.1443°N, 9.0717°E, 23-29.IV.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, S. Delabye.

Differential diagnosis.

In the male genitalia, the new species exhibits great similarity to Alucita escobari Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2018, from which it differs in the more reduced notch in the top of the uncus and in the caudally acute saccus. In contrast, in A. escobari the notch on the top of the uncus is clearly expressed, triangular, and the saccus is caudally smooth, oval, and not acute. Additionally, these two moth species are clearly distinct externally. In the female genitalia, the new species closely resembles Alucita besongi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2018 and Alucita janeceki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2018. From the former, it differs in the oval, elongated bursa copulatrix and the absence of small signa in it, while in A. besongi the bursa copulatrix is pear-like, its surface covered with tiny signa. From the latter, the new species differs in the shape of the bursa copulatrix and the antrum, in the new species the bursa copulatrix narrows caudally, while in A. janeceki , it has a rounded base. The antrum in the new species has a narrow V-shaped notch on the outer edge, while in A. janeceki the notch is wide. From both species, the new species differs in the very long posterior apophyses, in A. besongi and A. janeceki the anterior and posterior apophyses are equal in the length. Furthermore, the male genitalia of the new species are clearly different from those of A. besongi and A. janeceki .

External characters.

The head, thorax, and tegulae are white. Labial palpi are pale-yellow and measure twice the longitudinal eye diameter. The antennae are yellowish white. The wingspan ranges from 9 to 12 mm (holotype 11 mm). The wings are pale yellow, mottled, with alternating white and yellowish brown portions of scales. All lobes of the wings have small dark spots of scales on tips. The fringe on all lobes of the wings has alternating white and pale brown portions of hairs. The hind legs are white.

Male genitalia.

The uncus is long, distally extended, and apically with a poorly visible notch. The gnathos is slightly shorter than the uncus and apically acute. The gnathos arms are wide and slightly shorter than the gnathos itself. The valves are wing-like and apically have a bundle of thin needle-like setae. The anellus arms are wide, straight, and equal in length to the gnathos. The saccus is elongated and forms a narrow triangle, with an acute tip. The aedeagus is almost straight, obliquely cut apically, and without cornuti.

Female genitalia.

The papillae anales are narrow and elongated. The posterior apophyses are very long and thin. The antrum is 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 extends distally inside the bursa copulatrix. The bursa copulatrix is oval, elongated, and noticeably narrows at the end, with numerous longitudinal long ribs inside.

Distribution.

The species was found in Cameroon.

Flight period.

The species was collected in May and from October to December.

Etymology.

The species is named after Fako, the local name of Mount Cameroon, which is the type locality of the species. The name aims to emphasise the importance of the area and encourage the protection of the species’ habitats.

Figures

Figures 9 - 11. Alucita fako Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 9 adult male, holotype, NECJU 10 male genitalia and structures of the segment VIII of the male abdomen, holotype, NEJCU, preparation slide no. 230704 11 female genitalia, paratype. Scale bar: 5 mm.