Alucita besongi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich

Ustjuzhanin, Peter, Kovtunovich, Vasily, Safian, Szabolcs, Maicher, Vincent & Tropek, Robert, 2018, A newly discovered biodiversity hotspot of many-plumed moths in the Mount Cameroon area: first report on species diversity, with description of nine new species (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae), ZooKeys 777, pp. 119-139 : 119

Alucita besongi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. n.

Type material.

Holotype, male, (NECJU 201808) CAMEROON, Bamboo Camp, 350 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), N4.08791°, E9.05051°, 17-23.IV.2015, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes: 2 females (NECJU, CUK), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

The yellowish brown wings and the small size of the new species are similar to A. certifica Meyrick, 1909. These species differ from each other by the absence of the wide pale-brown band in the median portion of the fore wing in A. besongi . In the male genitalia, the shape of the uncus and the gnathos of the new species have some similarities to those of A. acalyptra Meyrick, 1913; these species differ from each other by the elongated saccus, the peculiar shape of the valva and the phallus with large needle-shaped cornuti in A. besongi .

External characters.

Head, thorax, and tegula with white clinging scales. Labial palpus white, interspersed with small brown scales, 2 × longer than longitudinal eye diameter, bent upwards. Third segment thin, framed with narrow brown band at base. Antenna yellow. Wingspan 8-10 mm, of holotype 9 mm. Wing yellowish brown. Wing base interspersed with small brown scales. White longitudinal strokes separated by pale brown portions well expressed on first lobe. Poorly noticeable series of white bands from wing base to apical area. Fringe on wing yellowish brown. Hind leg pale yellow.

Male genitalia.

Uncus long, distally wide, apically slightly tapered. Gnathos narrow, long, tapered to apex. Valva basally wide, then smoothly narrowing. Anellus arms straight, long. Saccus elongated, oval. Phallus thick, long, almost twice as long as entire genital structure, with cluster of large spiny cornuti.

Female genitalia.

Papilla analis narrow, elongated. Posterior apophyses long, thin. Anterior apophyses straight, equal to posterior apophyses. Antrum short, V-shaped. Ductus short, corrugated, with longitudinal cords, smoothly turning into bursa copulatrix. Ductus seminalis inside bursa copulatrix. Bursa big, oval, with long ribbon-like signa and impregnation of small spiny signa.

Distribution.

Cameroon.

Flight period.

April.

Etymology.

The species is named after Simon B. Besong, the current main conservator of the Mount Cameroon National Park, who helped our research by various means of support.