Alucita mischenini 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 mischenini Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich sp. n.

Type material.

Holotype, male, (NECJU 201805) CAMEROON, Bimbia-Bonadikombo, 30 m a.s.l., Mexico Camp, Bimbia-Bonadikombo Community Forest, N3.98183°, E9.26250°, 07-12.V.2015, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes: 2 males (NECJU, CUK), PlanteCam, 11-18.XII.2014, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek.

Diagnosis.

The mottled colour and the transverse arched band on the wings of A. mischenini are similar to A. escobari . These species differ from each other by the brown spot of scales on the sixth lobe of the fore wing, declining from the arc to the distal part of the lobe. In the male genital structure, the shape of the valva and the phallus is also similar to A. escobari . These species differ from each other by the shape of the uncus, the longer gnathos, the saccus wide in the base, and narrower, longer anellus arms in A. mischenini .

External characters.

Head, thorax and tegula with white clinging scales. Labial palpus short, 1.5 × longer than longitudinal eye diameter, directed forward, white on inside, coloured with small brown scales on outside. Third segment short, middle part framed in narrow brown band, apex tapered. Antenna yellow. Wingspan 12-15 mm, of holotype 12 mm. Wing mottled, median transverse band of brown elongated spots of scales developed on first five lobes of fore wing. Similar spot on sixth lobe, declining from band and shifted to distal part of lobe. Median transverse band on hind wing forms correct arc. Small dark brown scales in basal part of fore and hind wing. Alternating portions of brown and yellow scales in distal part. Fringe on wing yellow, with alternating rare portions of brown hairs. Hind leg white.

Male genitalia.

Uncus long, basally narrow, distally wide, with poorly expressed cut at apex. Gnathos significantly longer than uncus, narrow, tapered to apex. Gnathos arms short, thick, smoothly bent inwards. Median process between gnathos arms well developed. Valva wing-like, short, wide. Anellus arms long, slightly shorter and noticeably wider than gnathos. Saccus short, basally wide, small oval cut on outer edge. Phallus short, slightly bent in middle, distally with small needle-shaped cornuti.

Distribution.

Cameroon.

Flight period.

May, December.

Etymology.

The species is named after the Novosibirsk biologist and naturalist Sergei Ivanovich Mischenin.