Alucita potockyi 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 potockyi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. nov.

Figs 22 , 23

Type material.

Holotype • ♂, (NECJU 230711), Cameroon, Mexico Camp, 30 m a.s.l., Bimbia-Bonadikombo, 3.9818°N, 9.2625°E, 10.X.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, S. Delabye.

Differential diagnosis.

The yellow wing colour of this species resembles Alucita compsoxantha Meyrick, 1924, but it can be distinguished by the differences in the position of the bands. In the male genitalia, A. potockyi shares similarities with Alucita tesserata (Meyrick, 1918) in the short uncus widening towards the apex and in the saccus shape, but it clearly differs in the apically tapered gnathos, long narrow valves and the long aedeagus that exceeds the genital structure in its length. In comparison, A. tesserata has a gnathos that strongly widens apically, short and wide valves, and a noticeably smaller aedeagus relative to the genital structure (see Ustjuzhanin et al. 2020a for the genitalia illustration).

External characters.

The forehead is covered with white clinging scales, while the nape bears protruding yellow-brown hairs. The thorax and tegulae are yellowish brown. The labial palpi are short, ~ 1.5 × as long as the longitudinal eye diameter, with the third segment acute and framed with brown scales. The antennae are yellow, with only the basal area above the scape adorned with dark-brown scales. The wingspan measures 14 mm, and the wings have a yellowish brown colouration. There is a narrow white band medially on the fore wings (potentially even more bands can be present, but it is difficult to distinguish them clearly on the single available specimen of a mediocre quality), and alternating brown and yellowish portions of scales are present in the distal half of the fore wings. The wings’ basal areas are covered with brown scales. The hind wings are slightly paler than the fore wings, with alternating brown and yellow portions of scales along all lobes. The fringe on all wings is yellow, and the hind wings appear pale-yellow.

Male genitalia.

The uncus is short, widening apically. The gnathos is robust, sharply narrowing apically. The valves are narrow, long, and poorly sclerotised. The gnathos arms are short and narrow-triangular. The anellus arms are thin, long, straight, and apically form axe-shaped extensions. The saccus is caudally oval. The aedeagus is long, slightly longer than the genital structure, and bears a series of tiny transverse spiky cornuti distally, along with two big needle-like cornuti positioned along the aedeagus medially.

Distribution.

The species was found in Cameroon only.

Flight period.

The species was collected in October.

Etymology.

The species is named after the Czech lepidopterist Pavel Potocký Sr., in appreciation of his long-term support with moth preparation and identification in various projects of RT’s research group.

Figures

Figures 22, 23. Alucita potockyi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 22 adult male, holotype, NECJU 23 male genitalia and structures of the segment VIII of the male abdomen, holotype, NEJCU, preparation slide no. 230711. Scale bar: 5 mm.