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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: Alucita fako Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita pyrczi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita sroczki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita potockyi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita sedlaceki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita tonda Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita erzayi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita sokolovi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., and Alucita hirsuta Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. Additionally, four additional species are reported from the Mount Cameroon area as new for the country: Alucita agassizi, Alucita dohertyi, Alucita plumigera, and Alucita rhaptica. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Urodeta falcata sp. nov. from Ghana and U. bisigna sp. nov. from Democratic Republic of the Congo are described. The habitus and genitalia are diagnosed and illustrated in detail. Identification keys to the Afrotropical species of the genus Urodeta, based on male and female genitalia, are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 from Hainan Island, China are described: M. apicicurvata Wang, sp. nov., M. apicirectangula Wang, sp. nov., M. bicuspidata Wang, sp. nov., M. bidentata Wang, sp. nov., M. conica Wang, sp. nov., M. hainanensis Wang, sp. nov., M. latiunca Wang, sp. nov., M. linearis Wang, sp. nov., M. magnidentata Wang, sp. nov., M. ornithorrhyncha Wang, sp. nov., M. parilis Wang, sp. nov., M. pectinalis Wang, sp. nov., M. puncticulata Wang, sp. nov., M. quadritaeniata Wang, sp. nov., M. robustispina Wang, sp. nov. and M. rostellata Wang, sp. nov. Images of adult dorsal habitus and genitalia of the new species are provided. A map showing the collecting localities and photos of the habitat where the specimens were collected are provided, along with two maps showing the distribution of each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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: Alucita bakweri Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita jana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita bakingili Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita tatjana Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita zuza Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucita deja Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., and Alucita bokwango 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Peter Ustjuzhanin, Vasily Kovtunovich, Sylvain Delabye, Vincent Maicher, Szabolcs Sáfián, Alexander Streltzov, Robert Tropek.)

The monotypic genus Neopalpa was described in 1998 by Czech entomologist Dalibor Povolný based on two male specimens from Santa Catalina Island, California, which he named N. neonata. The female of this species was discovered recently based on a DNA barcode match and is described. In addition, a new species with marked differences in morphology and DNA barcodes from southern California and Baja California Mexico is described as Neopalpa donaldtrumpi sp. n. Adults and genitalia of both species are illustrated, new diagnosis for the genus Neopalpa is provided, and its position within Gelechiidae is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endemic Hawaiian moth genus Hyposmocoma includes 348 described species and perhaps twice as many that remain undescribed. The genus is unusual within Lepidoptera in that its larvae create distinctive silk cases in which they perambulate while protected and camouflaged. An extraordinary diversity of case types exists, and to date more than ten different types have been identified, each corresponding roughly to a separate evolutionary lineage. In this study, we describe three new species of Hyposmocoma: H. ipohapuu sp. n. from Big Island, H. makawao sp. n. from Makawao Forest Reserve in Maui and H. tantala sp. n. from Mt. Tantalus, Oahu, all of which produce tubular purse cases during their larval stage. We also describe the female of H. inversella Walsingham, which was previously undescribed, and re-describe two closely related species, H. auropurpurea Walsingham and H. nebulifera Walsingham, neither which have been formally described in recent years. We present for the first time, primer sequences for a 705 bp fragment of CAD, designed for Hyposmocoma and relatives. The molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear loci demonstrates that all are distinct species. The discovery of a new, endemic species from Mt. Tantalus, an area with many invasive species, suggests that even relatively degraded areas in Hawaii would be worthy of active conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Urodetafalcata sp. nov. from Ghana and U.bisigna sp. nov. from Democratic Republic of the Congo are described. The habitus and genitalia are diagnosed and illustrated in detail. Identification keys to the Afrotropical species of the genus Urodeta , based on male and female genitalia, are provided., (Virginijus Sruoga, Jurate De Prins.)

A new species, Elachistaolekarsholti sp. nov. , is described from Henan, China. The habitus and male genitalia are diagnosed and illustrated in detail. This is the first record of the Elachistasaccharella species group in China. Identification keys to the Asian species of Elachistasaccharella species group, based on male and female genitalia, are provided., (Virginijus Sruoga.)

Sixteen new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 from Hainan Island, China are described: M. apicicurvata Wang, sp. nov. , M. apicirectangula Wang, sp. nov. , M. bicuspidata Wang, sp. nov. , M. bidentata Wang, sp. nov. , M. conica Wang, sp. nov. , M. hainanensis Wang, sp. nov. , M. latiunca Wang, sp. nov. , M. linearis Wang, sp. nov. , M. magnidentata Wang, sp. nov. , M. ornithorrhyncha Wang, sp. nov. , M. parilis Wang, sp. nov. , M. pectinalis Wang, sp. nov. , M. puncticulata Wang, sp. nov. , M. quadritaeniata Wang, sp. nov. , M. robustispina Wang, sp. nov. and M. rostellata Wang, sp. nov. Images of adult dorsal habitus and genitalia of the new species are provided. A map showing the collecting localities and photos of the habitat where the specimens were collected are provided, along with two maps showing the distribution of each species., (Xiaoju Zhu, Bo Cai, Shuxia Wang.)