Neurocossus albuquerci, Yakovlev, 2023

Neurocossus albuquerci sp. nov.

( Figs 1A, 2)

Holotype. Male , with labels: “ India, Goa, Bendurdem / 15.1290°N / 74.0334°E, on light / leg. K. Tomkovich, 1−4.iii.2009 ”, “Genital preparation / № 423 / Naydenov”, “ HOLOTYPUS / Neurocossus albuquerquei / Yakovlev, 2023 / Yakovlev des., 2023” ( ISEA). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. The new species clearly differs from all known species of the genus in the following characters: (a) very small size: fore wing length 9 mm (in other species, length of fore wing 15−16 mm); (b) poorly developed reticulate pattern on fore wing (in other species, fore wing with tiny black dots along veins); (c) very wide semicircular uncus (in other species, uncus significantly narrower).

Description. Male. Length of forewing 9 mm. Antenna bipectinate, setae twice as long as diameter of antennal rod. Forewing apically sharp, light grey, with thin reticulate pattern on entire wing area. Hind wing light grey, with poorly expressed grey dusting on entire wing area.

Male genitalia. Uncus robust, apically extend- ed, semicircular; gnathos arms short, thick; gnathos large, densely covered with tiny spikes; valve long, lanceolate, distal half of valve membranous, triangular; transtilla processes hook-like, strongly curved; juxta with long clavate lateral processes; saccus small, semicircular; phallus equal to valve in length, thin, poorly curved on border between medium and distal third; vesical aperture in dorsoapical position, short; vesica without cornuti.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The new species is named after Afonso de Albuquerque, the first Duke of Goa (1453–1515), a Portuguese traveller, military man and statesman. His latinised name, Alphonsus Albuquercus, is used here to create the name of the new species.

Distribution. Western India: Goa Province.

Flight period. March.