Two new butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) from Mount Cameroon, Gulf of Guinea Highlands, Cameroon

Magnifying the hotspot: descriptions of nine new species of many-plumed moths (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae), with an identification key to all species known from Cameroon

This study confirms Mount Cameroon as an unprecedented hotspot for the diversity of many-plumed moths, with the discovery and description of nine new species: Alucitafako Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitapyrczi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitasroczki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitapotockyi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitasedlaceki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitatonda Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitaerzayi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitasokolovi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., and Alucitahirsuta Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. Additionally, four additional species are reported from the Mount Cameroon area as new for the country: Alucitaagassizi, Alucitadohertyi, Alucitaplumigera, and Alucitarhaptica. Of the 89 Alucitidae known from the Afrotropics, the studied area hosts 36 species, most of which are endemic to the area. This unprecedented level of diversity and endemism within this lepidopteran family highlights Mount Cameroon's significance as a stronghold for specialised insect taxa. Efficient conservation efforts are necessary to protect these ecosystems and their associated unique microlepidopteran diversity.

Even hotter hotspot: description of seven new species of many-plumed moths (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae) from Mount Cameroon

Mount Cameroon, SW Cameroon, has already been described as a unique hotspot of the many-plumed moth (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae), with their local diversity unrivalled in the entire Afrotropics. We confirm its importance with description of seven new species: Alucitabakweri Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitajana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitabakingili Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitatatjana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitazuza Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitadeja Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., and Alucitabokwango Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. These descriptions have raised the known local diversity of many-plumed moth species on Mount Cameroon to 22, i.e., over a quarter of the known Afrotropical biodiversity of this group. This study also emphasises the great conservation importance of the area.

First records of 31 species of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) in Cameroon, with remarks on their elevational ranges

Background

The biodiversity of West and Central Africa is understudied, including butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). Cameroon, through its position in between few biogeographic regions and diversity of habitats, is an important hotspot of lepidopteran diversity. However, the country also ranks low when it comes to local biodiversity knowledge. During our long-term ecological projects in the Cameroonian part of the Gulf of Guinea Highlands, we collected rich material of butterflies and moths, including a number of interesting faunistic records.

New information

In this study, we report 31 species of butterflies and moths which have not yet been recorded in Cameroon. These species comprised eight new genera records for the country. In many cases, our records represented an important extension of the species’ known distribution, including ten species whose distribution ranges extended into the Guinean biogeographic region. We also comment on the species’ elevational distribution ranges on Mount Cameroon where most of our records originated. Additionally, we confirm the presence of a butterfly Telchiniaencedena, after more than a century since its first and so far its only record in Cameroon.

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)

Fifteen species of many-plumed moths are recorded from the Mount Cameroon area, SW Cameroon, West Africa. Nine species: Alucitalongipenis Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., A.lidiya Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., A.ludmila Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., A.escobari Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., A.mischenini Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., A.fokami Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., A.janeceki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., A.besongi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., and A.olga Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. n., are described as new for science. Four species are recorded as new from Cameroon: A.acalyptra, A.chloracta, A.coffeina, and A.spicifera. By these records, the Mount Cameroon area has become the richest known Afrotropical locality for the Alucitidae, highlighting its tremendous value for biodiversity conservation.