Holotype • 1 male, (NECJU 201901) Cameroon, PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 11–18.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek.

In the yellowish colour of its wings, this species resembles Alucita ferruginea Walsingham, 1881, Alucita balioxantha (Meyrick, 1921), and Alucita compsoxantha (Meyrick, 1924), from which it differs in the structure of male genitalia. Genitalia of the new species differ from A. balioxantha by a thin sharp gnathos, prolonged saccus, and short, wide and wing-like valvae (Fig. 19). Alucita balioxantha gnathos is wider, with a blunt and round top, the saccus is archlike and not prolonged, and valvae are thin and lancet-like. In the shape of the uncus and gnathos of the male genitalia, A. bakweri is similar to A. ferruginea, from which it differs in having an elongated, narrowing saccus without the distinct notch on its outer edge. Additionally, unlike A. ferruginea, A. bakweri has clusters of small acicular cornuti apically on the aedaeagus. Moreover, its valvae are short, wide and wing-like, with a bundle of thin needle-like cornuti in its apical part. Whilst male genitalia of the new species have a forked uncus and comparatively short aedeagus, A. compsoxantha has a simple short uncus and a very long aedeagus.

Wingspan 18 mm. Head with white scales, thorax and tegulae yellowish-brown. Labial palpus yellow, thin, straight, twice as long as longitudinal eye diameter. Third segment discrete, directed forward, median part framed by brown lines, apically pale and sharp. Antenna white, basally thickened. Wings yellowish-brown, with four white transverse lines. Wings basally darkened with brown scales. Abdomen yellowish-brown. Hind leg pale yellow.

Uncus long, distally widened, apically with triangle notch. Gnathos narrow, apically tapered, in length equal to uncus. Gnathos arms short, thick, smoothly bent inwards. Valves short, wide, wing-shaped, apically with bundle of fine acicular setae. Anellus arms wide, short. Saccus elongated, narrow triangular. Aedeagus almost straight, with an elongated uncinate cornutus in middle, groups of fine acicular cornuti distally, and narrow sharp cornuti sticking out apically.

Figures 2, 3. 

Alucita bakweri Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 2 adult male, Holotype, NEJCU 3 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201901. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Cameroon.

December.

We name the species after the Bakweri people, the main ethnic group of the Mount Cameroon region. Without the priceless assistance of numerous local people our project would not be possible. We hope such dedication will encourage protection of the species’ habitats.

Holotype • male, (NECJU 201902) Cameroon, PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 09–14.IV.2015, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes • 1 male, (CUK), Ekonjo, 1150 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.0881°N, 9.1168°E, 24.X.2017, lgt.V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye • 1 male, (CUK), Mapanja camp, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1157°N, 9.1315°E, 25.X.2017, V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye.

The new species is similar in the shape of the uncus and valves of the male genitalia to Alucita tesserata (Meyrick, 1918) (Fig. 20), but it differs in the apically narrow gnathos and the presence of a group of fine acicular cornuti in the aedeagus. Alucita jana also differs from A. tesserata in the wing colouration.

Wingspan 15 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae with brown appressed scales. Labial palpus wide, short, 1.5 longer than longitudinal eye diameter, slightly bent upwards, brown scaled inside and outside. Third segment discrete, apically sharp. Antenna yellowish-brown. Wings yellowish-brown, distinctive pale brown band medially. Forewings show a dark brown postmedial band. Forewing basally with dark brown scales, hindwing basally light. Distally, alternating portions of brown and yellowish scales. Fringe of wings yellow, with alternating portions of brown hairs. Hind leg pale yellow.

Uncus long, apically slightly widened. Gnathos long, distally widened, apically slightly tapered, equal to uncus in length. Valve short, finger-like, membranous. Anellus arms narrow, long, apically slightly widened. Saccus with oval outer edge. Aedeagus straight, basally widened, apically with a group of fine acicular cornuti.

Figures 4, 5. 

Alucita jana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 4 adult male, Holotype, NEJCU 5 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201902. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Cameroon.

April, October.

The species name is a noun in apposition in honour to Robert Tropek’s mother, Jana Tropková.

Holotype • male (NECJU 201903) Cameroon, Bamboo Camp, 350 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.0879°N, 9.0505°E, 12–20.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes • 1 male (CUK), same data as the holotype • 1 female (NECJU 201908), same data as the holotype • 1 male, (CUK), PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 29.I.-07.II.2016, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, R. Tropek.

The new species resembles Alucita fokami Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2018 in external appearance but it substantially differs in both male and female genitalia (for genitalia of A. fokami, see Ustjuzhanin et al. 2018). Alucita bakingili is similar to Alucita seychellensis (T.B. Fletcher, 1910) in male genitalia (illustrated in Ustjuzhanin and Kovtunovich 2016), specifically in the sclerotized process on the sacculus. Alucita bakingili also differs from A. seychellensis in its wide gnathos, the narrow triangular valves and the short narrow uncus. In the female genitalia, the new species is similar to Alucita rhaptica (Meyrick, 1920) (Fig. 21), from which it differs in its rectangular lamina postvaginalis and in the longer and narrower ductus.

Wingspan 12–15 mm, holotype 12 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae with dark grey scales and an admixture of white scales. Labial palpus grey outside, white inside, 1.5 times longer than longitudinal eye diameter, directed forward. Third segment short, apically slightly sharpened. Antenna pale grey, distinct dark elongated spot basally just beyond scape. Wings mottled, yellowish-grey, medially with a poorly expressed yellowish-brown band. Alternating portions of grey and white scales shaped as elongated strokes, spots and points on lobe of all wings. Fringe with alternating portions of grey and white hairs. Hind leg pale yellow.

Uncus short, straight, slightly widened apically. Gnathos wide, sharply narrowing apically, a little longer than uncus. Valve short, narrow triangular, membranous. Sacculus with membranous process containing a large sclerotized uncinate process in lower part. Anellus arms very long, basally wide, medially narrowing, apically widened and slightly bent. Saccus with oval outer edge. Aedeagus long, straight, with two robust cornute in this medial part.

Papilla analis narrow, elongated. Posterior apophyses thin, straight. Anterior apophyses also thin, straight, equal in length to posterior apophyses. Lamina postvaginalis sclerotized, wide, rectangular, with blunt angular lateral projections. Antrum corrugated, wide, short. Ductus wide, medially swollen. Ductus seminalis short, well expressed. Bursa copulatrix small, oval, with robust elongated comb-shaped signum located basally and reaching base of ductus seminalis.

Figures 6–8. 

Alucita bakingili Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 6 adult male, Holotype, NEJCU 7 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201903 8 female genitalia, Paratype, preparation slide no. 201908. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Cameroon.

December to February.

The species is named after Bakingili, a village at the southern foothills of Mount Cameroon, in which area it was collected. Numerous people from the village helped our project as field assistants and by many other ways, and therefore the community was crucial for its success. The Bakingili people are also necessary for protection of the species’ natural area.

Holotype • female, (NECJU 201904) Cameroon, PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 09–14.IV.2015, V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, S. Janeček, R. Tropek; Paratype • 1 female, (CUK), Ekonjo, 1150 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (S slope), 4.0881°N, 9.1168°E, 24.X.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye.

The new species resembles Alucita mischenini Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2018 in the light colour of its wings and the wide medial band, but it differs in its larger size (21 mm vs. 12–15 mm wingspan). Additionally, the position and shape of dark markings in the basal and distal portions of the wings differentiates A. tatjana from A. mischenini whose forewings bear extensive brown areas in in the basal portions and almost continuous dark brown marks covering the distal halves of the first two forewing lobes (Ustjuzhanin et al. 2018). Additionally, forewings of the new species differ from A. mischenini by the continuation of the brown medial band through most of the length of the second forewing lobe. In female genitalia, A. tatjana is similar to A. compsoxantha Meyrick, 1924 (Fig. 22), especially in the shape of the antrum and the absence of any signa in the bursa copulatrix. However, A. tatjana differs in its shorter and wider ductus and substantially shorter anterior and posterior apophyses. These species also differ in the colouration of their wings.

Wingspan 21 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae with appressed white scales. Labial palpus twice as long as longitudinal eye diameter, white, with a brown band of the third segment, thin, apically tapered, sharp. Antenna white. Scape extended and flattened. Wings white with well-expressed wide median band, brown on forewing and almost black on hindwing. Subterminal band narrower, consisting of brown spots of scales, intermittently traced throughout all lobes. First forewing lobe apically brown. Second forewing lobe with brown colouration continuous between median band and subterminal band. Forewing basally white with well-expressed dark brown fringes near the base of the cleft between the second and third lobes. Hindwing basally white with scattered dark brown scales and a prominent dark brown marking across base of second to sixth lobes. Hind leg pale yellow (although not so apparent in Fig. 9).

Figures 9, 10. 

Alucita tatjana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 9 adult female, Holotype, NEJCU 10 female genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201904. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Papilla analis narrow, elongated. Posterior and anterior apophyses thick, straight. Anterior apophyses equal in length to posterior apophyses. Antrum wide, goblet-like. Ductus short, expanded in median part around junction with ductus seminalis, and corrugated at junction with bursa copulatrix. Bursa copulatrix small, oval, without signa.

Cameroon.

April, October.

The species is a noun in apposition in honour to Petr Ustjuzhanin’s sister, Tatjana Ustjuzhanina.

Holotype • 1 male, (NECJU 201905) Cameroon, Drink Gari, 650 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1014°N, 9.0610°E, 11–23.IV.2015, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek; Paratypes • 1 male, (CUK), same data as the holotype • 1 male (CUK), PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 29.I–07.II.2016, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, R. Tropek • 1 male (CUK), Drink Gari, 650 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1014°N, 9.061°E, 20.XI–10.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, R. Tropek.

In its male genitalia, the new species shares the elongated saccus and absence of valves with A. fokami (illustrated in Ustjuzhanin et al. 2018), but it differs in the narrow uncus which is not expanded apically, and in the absence of a long needle-like cornutus in the aedeagus.

Wingspan 12 mm. Head white, with two brown spots between antennae. Thorax and tegulae white. Labial palpus straight, 1.5 times as long as longitudinal eye diameter, with alternating white and dark bands on each segment. Third segment short, not tapered apically. Antenna yellow, with small dark brown spots basally, just above scape. Wings mottled in their dark parts. Forewing darker than hindwing, with predominance of dark brown spots and strokes, while these spots and strokes are less expressed on the hindwing, with predominance of pale-yellow portions. Wings basally white, although locally darkened with dark brown scales. Fringe with alternating portions of light and brown hairs. Hind leg pale yellow.

Uncus straight, finger-like, of even width. Gnathos and its arms wide, short. Valves absent. Anellus arms short, narrow, arched, apically sharp. Saccus very long, narrow, elongated, slightly expanded medially. Aedeagus straight, medially with two small, spinous cornuti (not apparent on Fig. 12).

Figures 11, 12. 

Alucita zuza Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 11 adult male, Holotype, NEJCU 12 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201905. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Cameroon.

November till February, April.

The species name is a noun in apposition. It was named in honour of the ichthyologist Zuzana Musilová, Robert Tropek’s wife.

Holotype • male (NECJU 201906), Cameroon, Bamboo Camp, 350 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.0879°N, 9.0505°E, 20.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes • 1 female (CUK), PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 11–18.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 1 female (NECJU 201909), PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 11–23.IV.2015, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek.

Alucita deja differs from other Alucita species by the distinctive white mirrors on its abdomen. The new species’ male genitalia are similar to A. janeceki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2018 in the absence of valves and the shape of the saccus (illustrated in Ustjuzhanin et al. 2018), but A. deja differs in the smoothly rounded apex of its uncus, the apically sharp anellus arms, jagged acicular cornuti in the aedeagus, and the wing colouration.

Female wingspan 15 mm, male wingspan 13 mm. Head with pure-white appressed scales. Thorax and tegulae also pure white anteriorly, sharply contrasting with dark brown posterior portions. Labial palpus short, 1.5 times as long as longitudinal eye diameter. Third segment short, not tapered apically. Antenna brown. Scape pure white. Wings and fringes dark brown. First lobe of forewing with white band around 1/3, narrow white band around 3/5 and yellowish-brown band edged with white around 4/5. Several irregular fine white cross-lines across all other lobes and fringes of both wings. Hind leg yellowish-brown. Fourth, sixth and last tergites of abdomen with mirrors of pure-white scales. Abdomen completely pure-white ventrally.

Uncus straight, long, of even width. Gnathos short, wide, apically expanded. Valves not developed. Anellus arms straight, apically sharp. Saccus shaped as elongated oval, with small notch at apex. Aedeagus robust, slightly shorter than entire genital structure, with jagged acicular cornuti from its medial part to apex.

Papilla analis narrow, elongated. Posterior apophyses thin, straight, shorter than anterior apophyses. Antrum wide, sclerotized, shaped as truncated tube with extended ostium. Outer edge of ostium jagged. Ductus wide and corrugated at its confluence to antrum and bursa copulatrix. Ductus seminalis short, bag-like, membranous, departing from confluence of ductus to antrum. Bursa copulatrix of irregular oval shape with elongated protrusion at apex.

Figures 13–15. 

Alucita deja Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 13 adult female, Paratype, NEJCU 14 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201906 15 female genitalia, Paratype, preparation slide no. 201909. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Cameroon.

April, December.

The species name is a noun in apposition in honour of the limnologist and cyanobacteria specialist, Andreja Kust, a dear soulmate of Vincent Maicher.

Holotype • male (NECJU 201907), Cameroon, Elephant Camp, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1170°N, 9.0729°E, 19–24.XI.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek. Paratypes • 1 female, (NECJU 201910), + 16 ex., (NECJU, CUK), same data as holotype • 1 male, (CUK), PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 06–15.II.2016, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, R. Tropek • 2 ex., (CUK, NECJU), PlanteCam, 1100 m a.s.l., 4.1175°N, 9.0709°E, 11–18.XII.2014, lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 1 male (CUK), Crater Lake, 1500 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1443°N, 9.0717°E, 11–21.II.2016, lgt. P. Potocký, Sz. Sáfián, J. Mertens, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 1 male (CUK), Elephant Camp, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1170°N, 9.0729°E, 17–22.II.2017, lgt. P. Potocký, Sz. Sáfián, J. Mertens, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek • 1 male (NECJU), Mann’s Spring, 2200 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1428°N, 9.1225°E, 16–21.IV.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye • 1 male (CUK), Crater Lake, 1500 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1443°N, 9.0717°E, 23–29.IV.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye • 8 ex., (NECJU, CUK), Elephant Camp, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1170°N, 9.0729°E, 18–26.IV.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye • 5 ex. (CUK, NECJU), Mapanja, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (S slope), 4.1157°N, 9.1315°E, 05–14.V.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye • 6 ex. (CUK, NECJU), Mapanja, 1850 m a.s.l., Mount Cameroon (SW slope), 4.1157°N, 9.1315°E, 23–28.X.2017, lgt. V. Maicher, P. Potocký, S. Delabye.

The new species resembles Alucita chloracta (Meyrick, 1908) in its external characters and the structure of the male genitalia. Genitalia of A. bokwango differs from A. chloracta in the needle-like apex of the uncus and the oval apical expansions of the valvae, whilst the uncus of A. chloracta is noticeably widened apically with a notch and valvae have a rounded apex. In its female genitalia, A. bokwango differs from A. chloracta (Fig. 24) in the short narrow ductus, wide funnel-shaped antrum and absence of a plaque-like signum in the bursa copulatrix. The wing colouration of A. bokwango is more contrasted than in A. chloracta (Fig. 23), and the new species is also substantially larger (23–25 mm vs. 15–16 mm wingspan).

Wingspan 23–25 mm. Head, thorax, tegulae and abdomen all dark brown. Labial palpus yellowish-brown, three times as long as longitudinal eye diameter, directed forward. Third segment thin, apically tapered. Antenna pale brown, with small dark brown spots basally, just above scape. Wings brown, outer edge slightly lighter. Medial band on all wings whitish, almost transparent, interspersed with brown portions of hairs on lobes fringe. Hind leg yellow.

Uncus thin, long, needle-shaped. Gnathos equal to uncus in length, apically sharp. Valves long, membranous, smoothly forming an oval apically. Anellus arms straight, narrow, equal to gnathos in their length. Saccus oval. Aedeagus robust, thick, almost equal in length to genital structure without uncus, two spinous cornuti distally.

Papilla analis oval, wide throughout length. Posterior apophyses slightly shorter than anterior, thick and slightly undulated. Antrum wide, funnel-like. Ductus short, thin, membranous. Bursa copulatrix large, oval, with two large, lanceolate signa (although not clearly apparent in Fig. 18).

Figures 16–18. 

Alucita bokwango Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. 16 adult male, Paratype, NEJCU 17 male genitalia, Holotype, preparation slide no. 201907 18 female genitalia, Paratype, preparation slide no. 201910. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Cameroon.

October-May

The species is named after Bokwango, a village on the eastern slope of Mount Cameroon where our project established its main base and where we made a lot of good friends. Many of the species records were also made in forests belonging to the village. Last but not least, most of our field assistants and other helpers came from Bokwango and we are thankful to all of them for the success of the project. We strongly believe this dedication will also help protect the unique biodiversity of the region.

18 specimens from Elephant Camp, 19–24.XI.2014, and two specimens from PlanteCam, 11–18.XII.2014, (all lgt. V. Maicher, Sz. Sáfián, Š. Janeček, R. Tropek), were erroneously indicated as A. chloracta by Ustjuzhanin et al. (2018). The other A. chloracta specimens referred by Ustjuzhanin et al. (2018) from Bamboo Camp, Drink Gari and PlanteCam were identified correctly.

Figures 19–24. 

Comparative illustrations of other Alucita species mentioned in the new species’ diagnoses 19 A. balioxantha (Meyrick, 1921), type, male genitalia 20 A. tesserata (Meyrick, 1918), type, male genitalia 21 A. rhaptica (Meyrick, 1920), female genitalia 22 A. compsoxantha (Meyrick, 1924), type, female genitalia 23 A. chloracta (Meyrick, 1908), type, adult female 24 A. chloracta, type, female genitalia.