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Cryptolectica convexa, sp. nov. (Figs 4A–F) Material examined. Holotype: ♁, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°37’S 013°05’E, 06.vi.2007, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS542. Paratype: 1♁, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°27’S 13°05’E, 22.iii.2006, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS537, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. In wing pattern and male genitalia, this species closely resembles Cryptolectica curvatum sp. nov., known from Cameroon. However, C. convexa sp. nov. is distinguished most easily by the medially dilated saccus, truncated cucullus and aedeagus without irregular sclerotized plate along with cornuti. Description. Adult (Figs 4A, B). Forewing length: 2.9–3.0 mm. Head: Frons snowy white with a few dark grey scales ventro-laterally; vertex snowy white, occipital tufts with few pale ochreous brown scales. Labial palpus about twice as long as the width of head, slightly upcurved, snowy white with some dark brown scales laterally. Maxillary palpus straight, about 0.8× as long as width of head, snowy white with some dark brown scales laterally. Antenna as long as forewing, scape white, ventrally with a flap of scales weakly suffused with fuscous above; pedicel dark grey, first two flagellomeres white, remaining flagellum fuscous above, underside greyish white in basal 1/3. Thorax: Ochreous brown at anterior half and white posteriorly, except caudal margin ochreous brown; tegulae ochreous brown at anterior half and white posteriorly. Forewing ochreous brown with a whitish base and two transverse white fasciae, slightly tapering towards costa; beyond second fascia at 2/3 of costa an oblique white strigula is present; large subapical white spot at 4/5 of forewing with fine streak of white fringe scales at tornus; apex ochreous brown, fringe pale fuscous, fringe line dark brown; all white marks of forewing edged by 1–2 rows of dark brown scales on both sides. Hindwing pale brownish grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore femur dark brownish grey with a small medial white patch, fore tibia dark brownish grey, tarsomeres white, tarsomere I white with medial brownish grey patch, tarsomere II with apical patch, tarsomeres III and IV without patches and tarsomere V brownish grey; mid femur white with large irregular dark brownish grey patches, mid tibia white with dark brownish grey subbasal and apical patches, tarsomere I white with medial brownish grey patch, tarsomere II with apical patch, tarsomeres III and IV without patches and tarsomere V brownish grey; hind femur white with dark brownish grey basal, medial and apical patches, hind tibia brownish grey with base and apex white, tarsomere I basal half brownish grey and apical half white, tarsomeres II–III white with brownish grey apical patches, tarsomeres IV–V brownish white. Abdomen: Pale brownish grey dorsally and white ventrally, sterna with brownish grey posterior margins. Dorsocephalic apodeme of male tergum VIII triangularly shaped, apically truncated and with central sclerotized rod. Ventral surface of abdomen with scale tuft between segments VI and VII (Fig. 4F). Male genitalia (Figs 4C–E). Tegumen oblong, weakly narrowed towards truncated apex, 0.6 length of valva, lateral margins inwardly bent in apical part, distal margin ventrally covered by dense setae and with three pairs of very long setae at lateral margins. Valva about 1.6× as long as tegumen, costa considerably convex beyond middle of valva, cucullus truncated, ventral margin weakly concave; transtilla incomplete, strongly sclerotized; long, slender androconial scales scattered on outer surface of valva near base. Diaphragma membranous, without any sclerotization. Vinculum short, U-shaped, with wide, apically bluntly rounded saccus. Aedeagus slightly longer than valva, weakly dilated in medial part, with short acute dorsal process at 1/2 of length, apex acute; vesica with a number of small spines, aggregated into parallel bands as long as 1/4 the length of aedeagus. Female. Unknown. Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. Probably two generations per year. Moths were captured in late March and early June. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in west of DRC. Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin ‘ convexa ’ (concave), referring to the characteristically convex costal margin of the valva., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 81-83, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737

Telamoptilia crux, sp. nov. (Figs 25A–E) Material examined. Holotype: ♀, Kenya, Kakamega Forest, 00°20’N 034°51’E, 1590 m, 15.x.2001, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS561, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. In wing pattern and female genitalia, this species is most similar to Telamoptilia cathedraea (Meyrick, 1908) known from Asia and Madagascar (for illustrations refer to Kumata et al. 1988b, figs 19; 37G, H; 41G; 44B, 49A; 54C). The main differences are the following: (1) in T. crux first broad fascia of the forewing is triangularlyshaped, it dorsal margin almost twice wider than costal, and outer edge not angulated, in T. cathedraea it is almost parallel-sided and outer margin angulated near dorsum; (2) membranous part of antrum until sclerotized ring in T. crux sp. nov. 2.7 times as long as its width, in T. catherdaea it is 1.2 times as long as its width; (3) corpus bursae in T. crux without internal spines, in T. cathedraea it is with comb-shaped small spines from 1/3 to 3/4 of corps bursa. Description. Adult (Figs 25A, B). Forewing length: 3.6 mm. Head: Frons and vertex snowy white. Labial palpus slightly more than twice as long as width of head, weakly upcurved, snowy white, second palpomere with some brownish scales latero-apically. Maxillary palpus straight, 0.5 as long as width of head, white with third palpomere greyish brown. Antenna as long as forewing, scape white, with very weak brownish tinge and with small flap of scales below, pedicel dark grey; first flagellomere white, remaining flagellum weakly annulated by darker scales, fuscous above, underside greyish white in basal 1/3. Thorax: White, with light ochreous brown anterior margin; tegulae same. Forewing ochreous brown with whitish base and two transverse white fasciae slightly tapering towards costa; beyond second fascia at 2/3 of costa an oblique white strigula; white spot present on dorsal margin obliquely opposite costal strigula; subapical white spot at 4/5 of forewing, apex ochreous brown, fringe pale fuscous; all white marks of forewing edged by 1–2 rows of dark brown scales on both sides. Hindwing pale brownish grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore femur dark brownish grey, fore tibia dark brownish grey; tarsomeres I–III white with brownish grey apical patches, tarsomeres IV–V brownish white; mid femur dark brownish grey with two white patches in apical part, mid tibia white with dark brownish grey basal and apical patches, tarsomeres I–III white with medial brown-grey patches, tarsomeres IV–V brownish white; hind femur white with dark brownish grey basal and subapical patches, hind tibia brownish grey with white subbasal and apical patches, tarsomeres I white with brownish grey basal and apical patches, tarsomeres II–IV white with brownish grey apical patches, tarsomere V brownish white. Abdomen: Pale brownish grey dorsally and white ventrally, segments with brownish grey posterior margins. Male. Unknown. Female genitalia (Figs 25C–E). Papillae anales rather short, obliquely transverse in lateral view. Apophysis posterioris 1.3 as long as apophysis anterioris, straight. Ostium simple, membranous, located near anterior margin of sternum VIII; membranous posterior part of antrum wide, as long as apophysis posterioris, with few longitudinal folds; antrum with two strongly sclerotized short irregular plates proximally; ductus bursae gradually widening towards corpus bursae, 4 times as long as apophysis anterioris, with tiny internal spines in caudal part of ductus; corpus bursae without internal spines, signum 2.5 times longer than apophysis anterioris, cruciform, consisting of slightly curved, strongly sclerotized rod, with pair of processes projecting midway along rod; short piece of sclerite jointed with signum at caudal end (Fig. 25D). Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. The only known specimen was captured at mid-October. Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin ‘ crux ’ (cross) in reference to the cruciform shape of the signum. Remarks. The forewings of the holotype are somewhat abraded, therefore the description is approximate., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 112-113, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Meyrick, E. (1908) Descriptions of Indian Micro-Lepidoptera. VIII. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 18 (4), 806 - 832.","Kumata, T., Kuroko, H. & Ermolaev, V. P. (1988 b) Japanese species of the Acrocercops-group (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Part II. Insecta Matsumurana, 40, 1 - 133."]}

Spulerina Vári, 1961 Spulerina Vári, 1961: 181. Type species: Ornix simploniella Fischer von R̂slerstamm, 1840, see also Nye & Fletcher (1991: 284). There are 26 species included in the genus distributed in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and one species is known from Europe. Here we used the following characters as diagnostic for the Spulerina: (1) antennal scape with flap of scales; (2) valva with one short comb with spreading teeth on inner surface; (3) median sclerotization of the dorsocephalic apodeme of male abdominal segment VIII extending onto tergum., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on page 102, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","Nye, I. W. B. & Fletcher, D. S. (1991) The generic names of moths of the World. Volume 6 Microlepidoptera. Natural History Museum, London, xxix + 368 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 119516"]}

Spulerina multispina, sp. n. (Figs 22A–H) Material examined. Holotype: ♁, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°27’S 13°05’E, 05.iv.2006, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS514, in coll. RBINS. Paratypes: 3♁, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°27’S 13°05’E, 22.iii.2006, leg. J. & W. De Prins; 2♁, same locality, 29.iii.2006, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS556; 2♁, same locality, 12.iv.2006, leg. J. De Prins; 1♁, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°37’S 13°05’E, 30.v.2007, leg. J. De Prins, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. In wing pattern and male genitalia, this species closely resembles Spulerina polula sp. nov. and S. cuneata sp. nov., known from the same locality. The new species is hardly distinguishable by external characters, however, it can be well diagnosed in male genitalia. The main differences are the following: (1) valva in S. multispina parallel-sided on basal 1/2, in S. polula sp. nov. on basal 3/5, and in S. cuneata sp. nov. on basal 2/3; (2) aedeagus in S. multispina sp. nov. is shorter than valva, while it is as long as valva in S. cuneata sp. nov. and S. polula sp. nov.; (3) sclerotized rods of aedeagus in S. multispina sp. nov. extend until basal 5/6, in S. polula sp. nov. and S. cuneata sp. nov. until basal 1/2; (4) vesica in S. multispina sp. nov. with small strong spines aggregated in a large mass, while vesica in S. cuneata sp. nov. with numerous tiny cornuti scattered in apical part of the aedeagus, and in S. polula sp. nov. it is with one long rod like cornutus and two rows of the smaller ones; (5) in S. multispina sp. nov. the length/width ratio of longest tooth of fan-shaped comb is 4, in S. polula sp. nov. it is 2, and in S. cuneata sp. nov. it is 6; (6) tegumen in S. multispina sp. nov. with one pair of subapical setae, in S. polula sp. nov. with 3 pairs, and in S. cuneata sp. nov. with 2 pairs of subapical setae. Description. Male (Figs 22A, B). Forewing length: 2.3–2.9 mm. Head: Frons and vertex white with few pale yellow-brown scales; occipital tufts brownish grey. Labial palpus ca. 1.5 times as long as width of head, drooping, white, second palpomere grey-brown in apical part, terminal palpomere with some grey-brown scales basally and pale ochreous tip. Maxillary palpus 0.3 as long as width of head, brownish grey. Antenna longer than forewing, scape greyish white, with dark brown flap of scales below, pedicel dark brown; flagellum brown-grey with basal part white. Thorax: White, with grey-brown anterior and posterior margins; tegulae white, with grey-brown anterior margin. Forewing yellowish brown with four white transverse fasciae outlined by dark brown edges; first fascia near base of forewing, incomplete, not reaching dorsal margin; subapical white spot at 4/5 of costa with brown black streak or dot inside it; greyish white apical spot very small, inconspicuous; apical fringe dark brown, subapical dorsal fringe yellow-grey. Hindwing brown grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore coxa white, with brown-black apical patch; fore femur brown-black with small medial white patch; fore tibia brown-black, with white basal patch; tarsomeres I–III white with brown-black apical patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white; mid coxa white, with brown-black apical patch; mid femur white, with subapical tuft of brown-black scales, mid tibia brown-black in basal and apical parts and white medially, tarsomeres I–III white with brown-black apical patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white; hind coxa white with small brown-black apical patch, hind femur white with small brown-black basal and apical patches, hind tibia white, with brown-black basal and apical patches, tarsomeres I–IV white with brown-black medial patches, tarsomere V white. Abdomen: Grey brown dorsally and white ventrally,sterna III–V with dark brown anterior margins.Dorsocephalic apodeme of male tergum VIII widened basally, truncated apically, about 0.6 as long as segment VII (Fig. 22H). Female. Unknown. Male genitalia (Figs 22C–G). Tegumen narrow and elongate, ca. 0.6 as long as valva, with one pair of subapical and one pair of apical setae. Valva narrow and long, nearly straight and parallel-sided on basal 1/2, then strongly narrowed and upcurved apically, thus costal margin shallowly concave at its apical 1/3; fan-shaped comb at apical 1/3 of valva, with 9–14 (11–12 in most specimens) apically blunt teeth on strongly sclerotized C-shaped base; long slender androconial scales scattered on outer surface of valva near base and shorter and wider ones slightly caudad. Vinculum with short, apically rounded saccus. Aedeagus straight, tubular, about 0.8 as long as valva, with two lateral sclerotized ridges on basal 5/6; vesica with numerous short spine-like cornuti in rows on sclerotized base about 1/3 the length of the entire aedeagus. Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. Adults on the wing were recorded in March–May. Distribution. Known only from type locality in the west of DRC. Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin prefix ‘ multi- ’ (multiple), and ‘ spina ’ (spine), in reference to the male genitalia with multiple spine-like cornuti., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 106-107, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737

Dialectica silvana, sp. n. (Figs 16A–F) Material examined. Holotype: ♀, Kenya, Kakamega Forest, 1575 m, 00°19’N 034°52’E, 31.iii.2003, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS519, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Dialectica praegemina (Meyrick, 1917), known from South Africa (for illustrations refer to Vári 1961, pl. 14, fig. 5; pl. 61, fig. 1; pl. 96, fig. 4). However, the forewing pattern differs mainly by less expressed white spots along the costal margin of the forewing. In female genitalia, strongly spinosed ductus bursae with two long, angled external projections and ostium bursae with sclerotized lateral and proximal margins easily separates D. silvana from D. praegemina. Description. Adult (Figs 16A, B). Forewing length: 4.6 mm. Head: Frons snowy white with grey brown scales ventrally; vertex and occipital tufts snowy white. Labial palpus 3.3× as long as width of head, upcurved, white, second palpomere grey-brown in apical part, terminal palpomere with some grey-brown scales basally and pale ochreous tip. Maxillary palpus as long as width of head, white intermixed with some dark brown scales. Antennal scape dirty white, with brown-grey flap of scales below; pedicel dark brown-grey, flagellum ochreous grey, underside greyish white in basal 1/3. Thorax: Snowy white; tegulae dark ochreous brown. Forewing colour orange-brown with white markings outlined by 1–2 rows of dark brown scales; three large triangular white dorsal blotches, first at 1/4 connected to rather wide band along dorsal margin between base and triangle; second smaller triangle at 1/2 from dorsal margin to above midline where it is becomes a narrow inverted triangle reaching costa; third triangle at 4/5 of dorsal margin, connected on dorsal margin with narrow white line from 9/10 on dorsal margin to about 4/5 on costal margin, small white costal spot opposite third triangle; fringe ochreous brown, fringe line dark brown. Hindwing brownish grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore coxa white, with brown-grey apical patch; fore femur brown-grey, fore tibia brown-grey, with white basal patch; tarsomere I dirty white with brown-grey medial patch, tarsomeres II–III dirty white with brown-grey subbasal patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white; mid femur brown-grey, with dirty white apical patch, mid tibia white, with brown-grey basal, subapical and apical patches, tarsomere I dirty white with brown grey medial patch, tarsomeres II–III dirty white with brown-grey subbasal patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white; hind femur white with small brown-grey medial patch, hind tibia white, with pale brown-grey apical and large medial patches and dark brown-grey apical patch, tarsomere I dirty white with pale brown grey basal and apical patches, tarsomeres II–III dirty white with brownish grey apical patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white. Abdomen: Pale brownish grey dorsally and white ventrally, sterna with pale brownish grey anterior margins. Male. Unknown. Female genitalia (Figs 16C–F). Papillae anales rather short, obliquely transverse in lateral view, basal margins strongly sclerotized. Apophysis posterioris about 0.7 the length of apophysis anterioris; apophysis anterioris with about 30 degrees angle at basal 1/3. Ostium bursae with sclerotized lateral and proximal margins; antrum short, weakly sclerotized. Ductus bursae long and narrow, 3× longer than segment VII, with tiny internal spines in all length and with a wide band of stout spines from 2/3 length of ductus bursae until corpus bursae and two scobinate horns at 2/3 length of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae oval, with 9 signa in form of sclerotized plates with pointed proximal processes arranged in a ring medially, two signa are smaller than other 7. Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. The only known specimen was captured in late March. Distribution. Known only from type locality in south-eastern Kenya. Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin ‘ silvanus ’ (associated with forest), in reference to the collecting site of the holotype. Remarks. The antennae of the holotype are partly broken and the forewings are slightly abraded, therefore the description is approximate., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 94-97, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Meyrick, E. (1917) Descriptions of South African Microlepidoptera. Annals of the South African Museum, 17, 1 - 21.","Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238."]}

Cryptolectica euryphanta (Meyrick, 1911) (Figs 7A–F; 8A–C) Acrocercops euryphanta; Meyrick 1911: 291; Vári 1961: 159–160; pl. 20, fig. 4; pl. 43, fig. 4; pl. 106, fig. 3. Cryptolectica euryphanta; Triberti 2004: 80. Material examined. 1♁, 1♀, Cameroon, North Province, Faro River Camp, 275 m, 08°23’N 012°49’E, 09.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. preps. VS548, VS549; 1♁, 2♀, same locality, 01.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins; 4♀, same locality, 09.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins; 1♁, Cameroon, North Province, Faro River Camp, 275 m, 08°22’N 012°51’E, 06.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. Among the species of Cryptolectica, C. euryphanta well diagnosed in wing pattern by two wide oblique white fasciae on fuscous background. The male genitalia are highly distinctive with almost parallel sided valva with bluntly rounded cucullus, a pair tufts of long setae on tegumen and two teeth in apical part of aedeagus. In female genitalia, highly spined central part of ductus bursae and two hook-shaped signa separates this species well from other known species of the genus. Flight period. Adults on the wing are recorded November–January (Vári 1961; Triberti 2004) and in May. Host plant(s). Unknown. Distribution. South Africa (Vári 1961); Seychelles (Gerlach & Matyot 2006); Namibia (Triberti 2004); Cameroon (new record)., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 85-87, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Meyrick, E. (1911) Tortricina and Tineina. In: Gardiner, J. S. (Ed.), Reports of the Percy Sladen Trust Expedition to the Indian Ocean in 1905. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 14 (3). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 263 - 307. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1911. tb 00085. x","Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","Triberti, P. (2004) Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera, Gracillarioidea). In: Mey, W. (Ed.), The Lepidoptera of the Brandberg Massif in Namibia. Part 1. Esperiana Memoir, 1, pp. 75 - 89.","Gerlach, J. & Matyot, P. (2006) Lepidoptera of the Seychelles islands. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 130 pp., 32 pls."]}

Cryptolectica terminalina (Vári, 1961), comb. nov. (Figs 9A–I, 10A–D) Acrocercops terminalina; Vári 1961: 157–158; pl. 17, fig. 5; pl. 62, fig. 4; pl. 98, fig. 5. Material examined. 11♁, 2♀, Cameroon, North Province, Faro River Camp, 275 m, 08°23’N 012°49’E, 01.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. preps. VS512, VS539, VS540, VS541, VS517, VS566. Wing venation prep. VS527. 18♁, same locality, 09.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS547.1 ♁, Cameroon, North Province, Faro River Camp, 275 m, 08°22’N 012°51’E, 06.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins; 2♁, Cameroon, North Province, Faro River Camp, 275 m, 08°25’N 012°47’E, 04.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. This species is most similar to Cryptolectica curvatum sp. nov. from the same locality and C. convexa sp. nov., known from DRC. The shape of valva, with strongly convex sacculus and almost straight costa are the main diagnostic characters in male genitalia. The female genitalia of this species can be separated from other Afrotropical Cryptolectica species by two signa comprised of numerous long, stout unequal spines arising from sclerotized oval base and increasing in sized proximally. Host plant(s). Terminalia silozensis Gibbs, Combretaceae (Vári 1961). Flight period. Adults fly in early February–March and in May (Vári 1961). Distribution. South Africa; Namibia; Zimbabwe (Vári 1961); Cameroon (new record). Remarks. According to the detailed redescription of Acrocercops Wallengren and Cryptolectica Vári by Kumata et al. (1988a), this species better fits in the genus Cryptolectica. We transfer this species to Cryptolectica based on combination of characters, defined by Kumata et al. (1988a), i.e. simple valva, without any comb and male abdominal segment VIII with a median sclerotization of dorsocephalic apodeme not extending onto the tergum. Besides, antennal scape in C. terminalina with a flap of scales, while according to Kumata et al. (1988a) scape in Acrocercops is simple, without any pecten or tuft. In the wing venation of C. terminalina, R4 and R5 are entirely fused unlike in the species currently assigned to Cryptolectica with known wing venation. Long R1, arising from basal 1/3–2/5 of cell and ending on costa at apical 1/3–2/5 of wing (Kumata et al. 2008a) or R1 1.2–2× longer than width of the forewing (Noreika 1997) also can be used as helpful trait for Cryptolectica, however, at least in the type species C. monodecta (Meyrick, 1912), R1 is much shorter, similarly as in C. terminalina. It seems that wing venation can be rather different among the species of Cryptolectica (Kumata et al. 1988a; Triberti 2004) and is not always reliable for separating this genus. In the original description of C. terminalina, Vári (1961) didn’t mentioned a scale tuft on the ventral surface of the abdomen between segments VI and VII (Fig. 9I). Probably it can be overlooked because this tuft is easily lost during maceration in KOH. Besides, the attachment place of the tuft can be hardly visible in some specimens as shown in Fig. 9G.

Dialectica falcata, sp. n. (Figs 12A–F; 13A–C) Material examined. Holotype: ♁, Kenya, Tsavo National Park, 530 m, Taita Discovery Centre, 03°40’S 38°45’E, 13.iv.2002, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS551, in coll. RBINS. Paratypes: 1♁, 1♀, Kenya, Taita Discovery Centre, Mwakaramba Tank, 500 m, 02°40’S 38°46’E (B8), 02.iv.2001, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS567; 1 ♁, 1♀, Kenya, Tsavo National Park, 530 m, Taita Discovery Centre, 03°40’S 38°45’E, 13.iv.2002, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. preps. VS552; 1♀, Kenya, Arabuko Sokoke Forest, 20 km W Gede, 90 m, 03°25’S 039°53’E, 31.iii.2004, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS522, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. The new species mostly resembles Dialectica anselmella Guillermet, 2011, known from Réunion (for illustrations refer to Guillermet 2011, photo 5, fig. 5, 6). The male genitalia of D. falcata are most easily diagnosed by the vesica with two short bands of small spines and more apically with two rows of larger spines. In the female genitalia the new species differs from D. anselmella by (1) two bunches of short spines with short lateral projections at posterior end of ductus bursae, (2) ductus bursae gradually widening towards corpus bursae in its entire length, while in D. anselmella it widened only in the proximal part, and (3) nine signa in the form of sclerotized plates with pointed proximal processes, in D. anselmella there are 8 signa in shape of crossed spines. Description. Adult (Figs 12A, B). Forewing length: 2.9–3.4 mm. Head: Frons and vertex snowy white, occipital tufts ochreous white. Labial palpus 2.3 times as long as width of head, upcurved, second palpomere white above, pale brown laterally, terminal palpomere pale brown. Maxillary palpus almost straight, nearly as long as width of head, white above, pale brown below. Antenna slightly longer than forewing, scape brownish grey, with small flap ventrally; flagellum brown grey, underside greyish white in basal 1/3. Thorax: Pale ochreous; tegulae pale ochreous with dark brown anteriorly. Forewing ochreous brown, whitish ochreous markings edged with blackish scales; first large triangular blotch extending on dorsum from near base to 2/5 of wing, its apex narrowly reaching costa; second smaller, trapezoidal blotch beyond middle to 2/3 of wing, its apex very narrowly reaching costa; rather narrow two medially constricted (sometimes interrupted) oblique bands at 4/5 and 5/6; apex with small white spot; apical fringe ochreous brown, subapical dorsal fringe ochreous white between oblique bands, otherwise pale ochreous grey. Hindwing brownish grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore coxa white, with pale brown apex, fore femur and tibia grey brown, tarsomeres I–II ochreous white with grey-brown medial patch, tarsomere III ochreous white with grey-brown apical patch, tarsomeres IV–V ochreous white; mid femur grey-brown, mid tibia grey-brown with dirty white medial patch, tarsomere I ochreous white with grey-brown medial patch, tarsomeres II–IV ochreous white with-grey brown medial patches, tarsomere V dirty ochreous white; hind femur white with small brown-grey basal, medial patch, hind tibia ochreous white with brown-grey medial patch, tarsomeres I–III ochreous white with grey-brown medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V ochreous white. Abdomen: Dorsal surface brownish grey; ventral surface white, sterna with greyish brown posterior margins.Male tergite VIII greatly enlarged, with proximal margin strongly sclerotized, mediobasally with a pair of dorsocephalic apodemes that are short and slender. Caudal margin of sternite VII widely notched, with long, apically shortly divided process directed caudally from the middle of notch (Fig. 12F). Male genitalia (Figs 12C–E). Tegumen oblong with a blunt apex in ventral view, shortly constricted at basal 1/7; lateral sides well sclerotized, with two pairs of long apical setae and 4 pairs of similar ones on median area of lateral margins. Valva as long as tegumen, dilated basally, gradually narrowing from about 1/2 towards narrow, strongly setose blunt apex; inner surface with two combs, posterior comb placed at basal 3/5, with 30–41 teeth, occupying about 1/3 the length of valva; anterior comb at basal 1/2, with 15–26 teeth, occupying about 1/4 the length of valva; long, slender androconial scales scattered on outer surface of valva near base; a bunch of long scent scales arising from inner surface of valva at about 1/4 from base in a group, and those from both valvae connected with each other by flattened apical parts in form of ovate leaf at back of tegumen. Vinculum short, with long and narrow saccus. Aedeagus 0.8 length of valva, tubular, apically slightly dilated; vesica with two short bands of small spines and more apically with two rows of larger spines. Female genitalia (Figs 13A–C). Papillae anales rather short, obliquely transverse in lateral view, basal margins strongly sclerotized. Apophysis posterioris as long as apophysis anterioris; apophysis anterioris angulated at 1/2, basal part broadened. Ostium small, with lightly sclerotized margins; antrum short, weakly sclerotized; ductus bursae wide, 2 times longer than segment VII, with a group of stout spines and two bunches of spines with short lateral projections in posterior end before antrum; corpus bursae small, oval, with 9–10 signa in the form of sclerotized plates with pointed proximal processes arranged in a ring medially. Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. Adults on the wing are recorded from late March until mid-April. Distribution. Known only from south-eastern Kenya. Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin ‘ falcata ’ (sickle-shaped) in reference to the shape of apophysis anterioris., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 90-94, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Guillermet, C. (2011) Contribution a l'etude des Heteroceres de l'ile de La Reunion: description de sept nouveaux taxons de Tineidae, Gracillariidae, Oecophoridae, Stathmopodidae et Arctiidae (Lepidoptera Heterocera). L'Entomologiste, 67 (4), 177 - 186."]}

Dialectica columellina (Vári, 1961) (Figs 11A–F) Acrocercops columellina; Vári 1961: 149–150; pl. 14, fig. 8; pl. 61, fig. 4; pl. 97, fig. 6. Dialectica columellina; De Prins & De Prins 2005: 172. Material examined. 1♁, Kenya, Arabuko Sokoke Forest, 15 km W Gede, 50 m, 03°17’S 039°59’E, 03.iv.2004, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS550, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. Among the Afrotropical species of the Dialectica, D. columellina is mostly similar to D. pavonicola (Vári, 1961), known from South Africa and D. odontosema (Vári, 1961), known from South Africa and Kenya. Superficially D. odontosema can be easy separated from D. columellina by the white fasciae strongly narrowed towards anterior margin of the forewing and D. pavonicola differs from D. columellina by the wider third transversal fascia. In the male genitalia D. columellina can be distinguished most easily by the presence of pair of separate cornuti near the apex of aedeagus, while in D. odontosema all cornuti are in clusters. In the female genitalia, a pair of sclerotized horns situated just before the corpus bursae in D. columellina (for illustrations refer to Vári 1961, 97, fig. 6), while in D. odontosema and D. pavonicola such horns are present at some distance from corpus bursae. Flight period. Adults on the wing are recorded in April–May (Vári, 1961). Host plant(s). Pavonia columella Cav., Malvaceae (Vári 1961). Distribution. South Africa (Vári 1961); Kenya (new record)., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on page 90, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","De Prins, W. & De Prins, J. (2005) Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera). In: Landry, B. (Ed.), World Catalogue of Insects. Vol. 6. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 502 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1163 / 9789004475397"]}

Acrocercops Wallengren, 1881 Acrocercops Wallengren, 1881: 95. Type species: Tinea brongniardella Fabricius, 1798. This genus is the largest among all genera of the Acrocercopinae, comprising about 325 species currently assigned to Acrocercops and distributed worldwide, especially in the tropics. The morphological characters of adults, including genitalia, were outlined by Vári (1961) and Kuznetzov (1979), but the most comprehensive redescription of the genus was provided by Kumata et al. (1988a). However, it was based largely on the Japanese species of the genus. Here, we used the following characters as diagnostic for the genus Acrocercops: (1) antennal scape simple, without a flap of scales; (2) forewing with 5R veins and veins R5, M1, and M2 of the forewing connate or approximate basally; (3) valva with one long comb on inner surface; (4) median sclerotization of the dorsocephalic apodeme of male abdominal segment VIII not extending onto tergum., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on page 77, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Wallengren, H. D. J. (1881) Genera nova Tinearum. Entomologisk Tidskrift, 1 (2), 94 - 97. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 5203","Fabricius, J. C. (1798) Supplementum Entomologiae Systematicae. Proft et Storch, Hafniae [Copenhagen], 572 pp.","Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","Kuznetzov, V. I. (1979) A review of the genera of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) of the Palaearctic fauna. Revue d'Entomologie de l'URSS, 58 (4), 835 - 856.","Kumata, T., Kuroko, H. & Ermolaev, V. P. (1988 a) Japanese species of the Acrocercops-group (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Part I. Insecta Matsumurana, 38, 1 - 111."]}

Acrocercops crena, sp. n. (Figs 1A–G; 2) Material examined. Holotype: 1♁, Kenya, Mount Kenya, Chorogia, 1600 m, 00°14’S 37°35’E (M8/08), 13– 14.iv.2001, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS564. Wing venation prep. VS568, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. Superficially, Acrocercops crena sp. nov. is similar to many Afrotropical Acrocercopinae species with white transverse fasciae on the forewing. Male genitalia of A. crena sp. nov. are distinctive from all other Afrotropical species currently assigned to Acrocercops by the combination of the following features: valva with a single comb of teeth and a group of stout setae on the inner surface near the apex of valva beyond the comb, aedeagus with a pair of apical teeth laterally and by the dorsal processes of tegumen. Besides this, the male sternite VII is distinguished with a caudal margin widely notched, and with strongly sclerotized delicately dentate short bands just laterad from the margins of the notch. Description. Adult (Figs 1A, B). Forewing length: 3.6 mm. Head: Frons white with few dark grey scales ventro-laterally; vertex white. Labial palpus about three times as long as width of head, slightly upcurved, white, second palpomere grey-brown laterally and terminal palpomere with a few grey-brown scales medially. Maxillary palpus straight, as long as the width of the head, white intermixed with some dark brown scales. Antenna 1.2× as long as forewing, scape white, weakly suffused with fuscous; flagellum brown grey, weakly annulated by darker scales. Thorax:White; tegulae ochreous brown at anterior half and white posteriorly.Forewing ochreous brown with two, broad, somewhat triangular white transverse fasciae; beyond second fascia at 2/3 of costa a subapical white spot at 4/5 of forewing with a fine streak of white fringe scales at tornus; small apical spot white; all white marks of forewing edged by 1–2 rows of dark brown scales on both sides; apical fringe white, subapical dorsal fringe ochreous brown, fringe line dark brown. Hindwing brownish grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore coxa white, with brown-grey basal and apical patches; fore femur brown-grey, fore tibia brown-grey, with white basal patch; tarsomere I white with brown-grey subbasal and subapical patches, tarsomeres II–IV white with brown grey medial patches, tarsomere V ochreous white; mid femur brown-grey, mid tibia brown grey in basal and apical parts, medially white, tarsomere I white with brown-grey subbasal and subapical patches, tarsomeres II–IV white with brown-grey medial patches, tarsomere V ochreous white; hind femur white with small brown-grey basal, medial and apical patches, hind tibia brown-grey with white subbasal and apical patches, tarsomere I white with brown-grey subbasal and subapical patches, tarsomeres II–IV white with brownish grey apical patches, tarsomere V brownish white. Abdomen: Brownish grey dorsally and white ventrally, sterna with brownish grey anterior margins laterally. Tergite VIII mediobasally with small Y-shaped dorsocephalic apodeme long and apically knobbed. Caudal margin of sternite VII widely notched, with strongly sclerotized delicately dentate short bands just laterad from margins of notch (Fig. 1H). Male genitalia (Figs 1C–G). Tegumen oblong with a pointed apex, gradually narrowed from 1/3 of base, 3 pairs of long setae and a pair of bands of short setae arranged on lateroventral edges in basal part; a pair of sclerotized projections of dorsal surface directed centrally and then anteriorly at basal 0.45 length of tegumen (Figs 1F, G). Valva about 3/5 as long as tegumen, dilated basally, strongly tapering from about 2/3 towards narrow strongly setose blunt apex; inner surface with one comb placed at basal 3/5, with 29–31 teeth, occupying about 1/4 length of valva, and a group of stout setae beyond comb at apex of valva; long slender androconial scales scattered on outer surface of valva near base; 8–10 long scent scales in a group arising from inner surface of valva at about 1/3 from base, and those from both valvae connected with each other by flattened apical parts in form of oblong leaf at back of tegumen. Vinculum small, with short rounded saccus. Aedeagus slightly shorter than valva, tubular, basally slightly dilated, gradually narrowed apically, apex truncated, with a pair of short teeth laterally; vesica with a band of minute spines nearly 1/3 length of aedeagus, apically mixed with a few larger ones. Female. Unknown. Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. The only known specimen was captured at mid-April. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in central Kenya. Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin ‘ crena ’ (notch), in reference to the notched caudal margin of sternite VII in the male abdomen. Remarks. The placement of this species in the genus Acrocercops is tentative. It does not fit completely in the genus, as it has a highly modified abdominal segment VII in the male abdomen. According to the generic diagnosis of Kumata et. al. (1988a) this segment is simple, as in the preceding segments of the abdomen. By this, A. crena sp. nov. has similarity with species of the genus Dialectica, but wing venation (Fig. 2) does not have stalked veins Rs and M1 as in Dialectica. In wing venation A. crena sp. nov. is more close to the pattern of Acrocercops as pointed by Kumata et al. (1988a): “veins R5, M1 and M2 of forewing connate or approximate basally and arising from apex of more or less lanceolate discoidal cell”. The head of holotype is somewhat abraded, therefore the description of the head is approximate., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 77-79, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Kumata, T., Kuroko, H. & Ermolaev, V. P. (1988 a) Japanese species of the Acrocercops-group (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Part I. Insecta Matsumurana, 38, 1 - 111."]}

Cryptolectica Vári, 1961 Cryptolectica Vári, 1961: 177. Type species: Acrocercops monodecta Meyrick, 1912. This is a small genus comprising 11 species currently assigned to it, and distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa (most species), Asia, and South America. In the original description of the genus Vári (1961) emphasized wing venation as means to diagnose genera. However, in the most comprehensive redescription of the genus, Kumata et al. (1988a) pointed out that wing venation of the Japanese species can be different from the ones provided by Vári (1961). As more reliable generic traits Kumata et al. (1988a) regarded the combination of the characters of genitalia, male abdomen and last instar larva. Here we used the following characters as diagnostic for the Cryptolectica: (1) antennal scape simple or with a small flap of scales; (2) valva simple, without any comb on inner surface or costal process; (3) median sclerotization of the dorsocephalic apodeme of male abdominal segment VIII not extending onto tergum.

Gibbovalva Kumata & Kuroko, 1988 Gibbovalva Kumata & Kuroko, 1988b: 3. Type species: Gracilaria quadrifasciata Stainton, 1862. The genus Gibbovalva, comprising 10 species, is distributed in Asia, Australia and 2 species are known from Sub-Saharan Africa. Here we used the following characters as diagnostic for Gibbovalva: (1) antennal scape with flap of scales; (2) valva with costal process; (3) corpus bursae usually without signum., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on page 99, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Kumata, T., Kuroko, H. & Ermolaev, V. P. (1988 b) Japanese species of the Acrocercops-group (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Part II. Insecta Matsumurana, 40, 1 - 133.","Stainton, H. T. (1862) Descriptions of nine exotic species of the genus Gracilaria [sic]. Transactions of the entomological Society of London, Series 3, 1 (3), 291 - 300. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2311.1862. tb 00607. x"]}

Gibbovalva cingulata, sp. n. (Figs 18A–F; 19A–C) Material examined. Holotype: 1♁, Kenya, Taita Hills, 1700 m, Ngangao, Primary Forest, 03°22’S 38°20’E (H8), 08.iv.2001, leg. J. & W. De Prins; ex 01K05 (8.iv.2001) 11.v.2001. Gen. prep. VS555, in coll. RBINS. Paratype: 1♀, same label as in holotype; ex 01K05 (8.iv.2001) 09.v.2001. Gen. prep. VS554, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. Gibbovalva cingulata sp. nov. could be compared with the only species of the genus from Afrotropics G. squamosa Triberti & Jaworski, 2014, known from Republic of Guinea. However, G. cingulata sp. nov. clearly differs from the latter by the following characters: forewing with three wide transverse fasciae, presence of the costal process of valva, very short ductus bursae and absence of signum. Description. Adult (Figs 18A, B). Forewing length: 4.1–4.2 mm. Head: Frons snowy white with some greyish brown scales laterally; vertex snowy white, occipital tufts greyish brown. Labial palpus ca. 3 times as long as width of head, upcurved, second palpomere grey-brown, with white basal patch on inner side, terminal palpomere white. Maxillary palpus as long as width of head, white intermixed with dark brown scales. Antenna as long as forewing, scape snowy white, with small flap of scales below; flagellum brown grey with basal part white. Thorax: White, with grey-brown anterior margin; tegulae same. Forewing orange-brown with white base and three transverse white fasciae; first slightly tapering towards dorsum; second and third slightly oblique, almost parallel sided; small white subapical spot on costa and similar opposite on tornus at 4/5 of forewing, smaller apical spot white; all white marks of forewing edged by 1–2 rows of dark brown scales on both sides; apical fringe brown-grey, subapical dorsal fringe grey ochreous. Hindwing brownish grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore coxa white, with dark brown subbasal and apical patches; fore femur brown-black, fore tibia dark brown, with white basal patch; tarsomeres I–III white with brown black medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white; mid femur dark brown, with white basal patch, mid tibia brown-black in basal and apical parts and white medially, tarsomeres I–III white with brown-black medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white; hind femur white with small dark brown basal and apical patches, hind tibia white, with dark brown basal and apical patches and large medial patch, tarsomeres I–III white with brown-black medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V dirty white. Abdomen: Dark grey-brown dorsally and white ventrally, sterna with dark brown anterior margins. Dorsocephalic apodeme of male tergum VIII widened basally, truncated apically, about 0.7 as long as segment VII (Fig. 18F). Male genitalia (Figs 18C–E). Tegumen oblong slightly narrowed apically, 0.6 as long as valva, covered with dense, tiny spines on dorsal and lateral surfaces, ventral surface with longer setae from basal 2/5 of tegumen; tuba analis with narrowly sclerotized subscaphium. Valva about 1.8 as long as tegumen, costa almost straight, reinforced in almost all its length, with a wide and short process just beyond middle; ventral margin roundly convex, and apex rounded; transtilla complete, weakly sclerotized; long, slender androconial scales scattered on outer surface of valva near base. Vinculum V-shaped, with very short, rounded saccus. Diaphragma weakly sclerotized ventrally, covered with tiny spines in basal part; ventral surface of apex deeply notched (Fig. 18E) near emargination of aedeagus. Aedeagus 0.8 the length of valva, tubular, basally slightly dilated, gradually narrowed apically, apex shortly tapered; vesica with number of tiny spines, aggregated in a mass from basal 1/6 until apex of aedeagus. Female genitalia (Figs 19A–C). Papillae anales rather short, obliquely transverse in lateral view. Apophysis posterioris 0.6 as long as apophysis anterioris. Ostium simple, membranous, located near anterior margin of sternum VIII; antrum sclerotized, slightly shorter than apophysis posterioris. Ductus bursae short, about 3.6× longer than apophysis anterioris, narrow in posterior part and strongly widened in anterior part, densely scattered with tiny internal spines; corpus bursae small, slightly longer than apophysis anterioris, without internal spines and signum. Host plant(s). Reared from an unidentified plant. Flight period. Adults on the wing are recorded in May. Distribution. Known only from type locality in south-eastern Kenya. Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin ‘ cingulatum ’ (girdled; belted), in reference to the forewing pattern. Remarks. This is the first record of Gibbovalva Kumata & Kuroko in Kenya and only the second one in Africa., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 99-102, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Triberti, P. & Jaworski, T. (2014) Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Gibbovalva Kumata & Kuroko, 1961 (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) with description of G. squamosa sp. n. from West Africa. Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, 38, 181 - 187."]}

Dialectica Walsingham, 1897 Dialectica Walsingham, 1897: 150. Type species: Gracilaria scalariella Zeller, 1850. Eutrichocnemis Spuler, 1910: 409. Type species: Gracillaria scalariella Zeller, 1850. The genus Dialectica, comprising 24 species, is distributed worldwide, with most species known from Sub-Saharan Africa. The morphological characters of the adults, including their genitalia, were outlined by Vári (1961) and Kuznetzov (1979), but the most comprehensive redescription of the genus was provided by Kumata et al. (1988a). Here we used the following characters as diagnostic for Dialectica: (1) antennal scape with flap of scales; (2) valva with two long combs on inner surface; (3) caudal margin of the male abdominal segment VII well sclerotized with paired processes or notched; (4) ductus bursae long, often partly shagreened and with a pair of valva-shaped sclerites or protuberances., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on page 90, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Walsingham, Lord (T. de Grey) (1897) Revision of the West-Indian Micro-Lepidoptera with descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1, 54 - 183. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 53759","Zeller, P. C. (1850) Verzeichniss der von Herrn Jos. Mann beobachteten Toscanischen Microlepidoptera. Entomologische Zeitung, Stettin, 11 (5), 139 - 162.","Spuler, A. (1910) Die Schmetterlinge Europas. Mit uber 3500 Figuren auf 95 Tafeln und 505 Abbildungen im Text. 3. Aufl age fon Prof. E. Hofmann's Werk: Die Gross-Schmetterlinge Europas. Vol. 2. Schweizerbarthsche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart, 523 pp.","Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","Kuznetzov, V. I. (1979) A review of the genera of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) of the Palaearctic fauna. Revue d'Entomologie de l'URSS, 58 (4), 835 - 856.","Kumata, T., Kuroko, H. & Ermolaev, V. P. (1988 a) Japanese species of the Acrocercops-group (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Part I. Insecta Matsumurana, 38, 1 - 111."]}

Spulerina cuneata, sp. n. (Figs 20A–H) Material examined. Holotype: ♁, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°27’S 13°05’E, 15.iii.2006, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS558, in coll. RBINS. Paratype: 1♁, same label as in holotype. Gen. prep. VS515, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. In wing pattern and male genitalia, this species closely resembles Spulerina multispina sp. nov. and S. polula sp. nov. known from the same locality. The new species is hardly distinguishable by external characters, however, it can be well diagnosed in male genitalia. The main differences are the following: (1) valva in S. cuneata parallel-sided on basal 2/3, in S. multispina sp. nov. on basal 1/2, and in S. polula sp. nov. on basal 3/5; (2) in S. cuneata the length/width ratio of longest tooth of fan-shaped comb is 6, in S. multispina sp. nov. it is 4, and in S. polula sp. nov. it is 2; (3) tegumen in S. cuneata with 2 pairs of subapical setae, in S. multispina with one pair, and in S. polula sp. nov. with 3 pairs of subapical setae; (4) vesica in S. cuneata sp. nov. with numerous tiny cornuti scattered in apical part of the aedeagus, in S. multispina sp. nov. it is with stronger spines aggregated in a large mass, and in S. polula sp. nov. vesica is with one long rod-like cornutus and two rows of smaller ones. Description. Adult (Figs 20A, B). Forewing length: 2.7–2.8 mm. Head: Frons and vertex white with few pale yellow-brown scales; occipital tufts brownish grey. Labial palpus ca. 2 times as long as width of head, drooping, white, second palpomere grey-brown in apical part, terminal palpomere with some grey-brown scales medially. Maxillary palpus 0.4 as long as width of head, basal palpomere white and terminal grey-brown. Antenna 1.2 as long as forewing, scape white, with large grey-brown flap of scales below, pedicel brown-black; flagellum pale brown-grey with basal part white. Thorax: Grey-brown; tegulae grey-brown with white posterior margin. Forewing yellowish brown with four white transverse fasciae outlined by dark brown edges; first fasciae incomplete; subapical white streak interrupted by ground colour into costal blotch with brown-black streak inside it and a small dorsal spot; greyish white apical spot very small, inconspicuous; apical fringe dark brown, subapical dorsal fringe yellow-grey. Hindwing brown-grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore coxa white, with grey-brown basal and apical patches; fore femur dark brown with small medial white patch; fore tibia dark brown, with white basal patch; tarsomeres I–III white with dark brown medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V white; mid coxa white, with dark brown apical patch; mid femur dark brown with small medial and apical white patches and subapical tuft of dark brown scales, mid tibia white, with basal and apical dark brown patches, tarsomeres I–III white with dark brown medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V white; hind coxa white with small dark brown apical patch, hind femur white with small dark brown basal and apical patches, hind tibia white, with dark brown basal and subapical patches, tarsomeres I–III white with dark brown medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V white. Abdomen: Grey-brown dorsally and white ventrally, sterna with dark brown anterior margins. Dorsocephalic apodeme of male tergum VIII widened basally, truncated apically, about 0.6 as long as segment VII (Fig. 20H). Female. Unknown. Male genitalia (Figs 20C–G). Tegumen narrow and elongate, ca. 0.7 as long as valva, with two pairs of subapical and one pair of apical setae. Valva nearly straight and parallel-sided on basal 2/3, then strongly upcurved apically, thus costal margin shallowly concave at its apical 1/5; fan-shaped comb at apical 1/3 of valva, with 9–11 wide apically blunt teeth on strongly sclerotized C-shaped base; long androconial scales scattered on outer surface of valva near base and shorter and wider ones slightly caudad. Vinculum short, saccus tapered apically. Aedeagus straight, tubular, as long as valva, with two lateral sclerotized ridges on basal 1/2; vesica with numerous tiny spines apically. Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. Adults on the wing are recorded in mid-March. Distribution. Known only from type locality in the west of DRC. Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin ‘ cuneata ’ (wedge), in reference to the triangular shape of the saccus. Remarks. The head in both type specimens are somewhat abraded and therefore the description is approximate., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 102-104, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737

Spulerina polula, sp. n. (Figs 24A–F) Material examined. Holotype: ♁, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°27’S 13°05’E, 05.iv.2006, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS557, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. In wing pattern and male genitalia this species closely resembles Spulerina multispina sp. nov. and S. cuneata sp. nov., known from the same locality. The new species is hardly distinguishable by external characters, however, it can be well diagnosed in male genitalia. The main differences are the following: (1) valva in S. polula sp. nov. parallel-sided on basal 3/5, in S. multispina on basal 1/2 and in S. cuneata on basal 2/3; (2) the fan-shaped comb in S. polula sp. nov. at apical 1/4 of valva, in S. multispina sp. nov. and S. cuneata sp. nov. it is at apical 1/3 of valva; (3) the length/width ratio of longest tooth of fan-shaped comb in S. polula sp. nov. is 2, in S. multispina sp. nov. it is 4 and in S. cuneata sp. nov. it is 6; (4) tegumen in S. polula sp. nov. with 3 pairs of subapical setae, in S. multispina sp. nov. with one pair, and in S. cuneata sp. nov. with 2 pairs of subapical setae; (5) vesica in S. polula sp. nov. with few long cornuti and numerous small ones, in S. multispina sp. nov. and S. cuneata sp. nov. vesica is without long cornuti, small ones only. Description. Adult (Fig. 24A). Forewing length: 3.0 mm. Thorax: Grey brown, posterior margin brownish white; tegulae same. Forewing yellowish brown with four white transverse fasciae with dark brown edges; first fascia incomplete, not reaching dorsal margin; rounded white subapical spot at 4/5 of costa with small brown-black spot or streak inside it and two small oblique streaks towards tornus; white apical spot very small, inconspicuous; apical fringe brown-black, subapical dorsal fringe yellowish grey. Hindwing brown-grey, its fringe scales somewhat paler. Fore coxa white, with grey-brown apical patch; fore femur grey-brown with small medial white patch; fore tibia grey-brown, with white basal patch; tarsomeres I–IV white with grey-brown apical patches, tarsomere V white; mid coxa white, with grey-brown apical patch; mid femur grey-brown with small medial and apical white patches and subapical tuft of brown-black scales, mid tibia white, with subbasal, subapical and apical grey-brown patches, tarsomeres I–III white with brown-black medial patches, tarsomeres IV–V white; hind coxa white with small brown-black apical patch, hind femur white with small brown-black basal and apical patches, hind tibia white, with brown-black basal and subapical patches, tarsomeres I–IV white with brown-black medial patches, tarsomere V white. Abdomen: Grey-brown dorsally and white ventrally, sterna with dark brown anterior margins. Dorsocephalic apodeme of male tergum VIII widened basally, apically truncated and strongly curved ventrad, about 0.6 as long as segment VII (Fig. 24F). Female. Unknown. Male genitalia (Figs 24B–E). Tegumen narrow and elongate, ca. 0.6 as long as valva, with three pairs of subapical and one pair of apical setae. Valva narrow and long, nearly straight and parallel-sided on basal 3/5, then gradually narrowed and upcurved apically, thus costal margin shallowly concave at its apical 1/4; fan-shaped comb at apical 1/4 of valva, with 9–11 short, apically blunt teeth on strongly sclerotized C-shaped base; long slender androconial scales scattered on outer surface of valva near base. Vinculum with short sclerotized median ridge, saccus short, blunt.Aedeagus straight, tubular, as long as valva, with two lateral scletotized ridges in basal 0.6 length of aedeagus; vesica with two rows of larger cornuti and numerous tiny spines in about 1/2 the length of aedeagus. Host plant(s). Unknown. Flight period. The only known specimen was captured at the beginning of April. Distribution. Known only from type locality in the west of DRC. Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin ‘ polula ’ (small), in reference to the small teeth of fan-shaped comb of valva. Remarks. The head of the holotype is missing and therefore the description of external characters is incomplete., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 110-111, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737

Telamoptilia Kumata & Kuroko, 1988 Telamoptilia Kumata & Kuroko, 1988b: 57. Type species: Acrocercops cathedraea Meyrick, 1908. This is small genus of 9 species distributed in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and one species is known from Cuba. The following characters of adult are considered as diagnostic for the Telamoptilia: (1) antennal scape with minute flap of scales; (2) valva without any comb on inner surface; (3) median sclerotization of the dorsocephalic apodeme of male abdominal segment VIII extending onto tergum; (4) corpus bursae often with cruciform or navicular shaped signum.

Dialectica odontosema (Vári, 1961) (Figs 14A–F; 15A–D) Acrocercops odontosema; Vári 1961: 150–151; pl. 5, fig. 6; pl. 61, fig. 5; pl. 97, fig. 3. Dialectica odontosema; De Prins & De Prins 2005: 173. Material examined. 1♁, Kenya, Aberdare National Park, Ruhuruini Gates, 2300 m, 00°23’S 036°49’E, 22.x.2001, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS553; 1♀, Kenya, Nakuru National Park, Makalia Falls Camp Site, 00°27’S 036°04’E, 1855 m, 10.x.2001, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS520, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. Among the Afrotropical species of the Dialectica, D. odontosema is mostly similar to D. pavonicola (Vári, 1961), known from South Africa and D. columellina (Vári, 1961), known from South Africa and Kenya. Superficially D. odontosema can be separated from D. columellina and D. pavonicola by the white fasciae strongly narrowed towards anterior margin of the forewing. In the male genitalia D. odontosema can be distinguished most easily by cornuti all in clusters, while in D. columellina a pair of separate cornuti are near the apex of aedeagus. In the female genitalia, a pair of sclerotized horns in ductus bursae are in some distance from the corpus bursae in D. odontosema, while in D. columellina these horns are much closer to the corpus bursae. Ductus bursae in D. pavonicola with two spinosed areas between antrum and scobinated horns, while in D. odontosema and D. columellina there is only one such area. Flight period. Adults on the wing are recorded in January (Vári 1961) and October. Host plant(s). Unknown. Distribution. South Africa (Vári 1961) and Kenya (new record). Remark. Specimens belonging to this species from Kenya are present also in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on page 94, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","De Prins, W. & De Prins, J. (2005) Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera). In: Landry, B. (Ed.), World Catalogue of Insects. Vol. 6. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 502 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1163 / 9789004475397"]}

Dialectica trigonidota (Vári, 1961) (Figs 17A–E) Acrocercops trigonidota; Vári 1961: 151–152; pl. 5, fig. 5; pl. 97, fig. 5. Dialectica trigonidota; De Prins & De Prins 2005: 175. Material examined. 1♀, Congo Dem. Rep., Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05°37’S 013°05’E, 23.v.2007, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS521, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. Dialectica trigonidota is superficially similar to D. odontosema, known from South Africa and Kenya. However, it can be distinguished by the presence of a large white subapical spot. In female genitalia, D. trigonidota can be readily separated from other Afrotropical Dialectica species by two elongated spinose signa. Flight period. Probably two generations per year. Moth in South Africa was captured in mid-January (Vári 1961), and in DRC in late May. Host plant(s). Unknown. Distribution. South Africa (Vári 1961); Democratic Republic of the Congo (new record). Remarks. The specimen from DRC slightly differs from the holotype in wing pattern by the second fascia being not so narrowed at costa. Since we found no significant differences in the female genitalia, we consider it conspecific with Dialectica trigonidota., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 98-99, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","De Prins, W. & De Prins, J. (2005) Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera). In: Landry, B. (Ed.), World Catalogue of Insects. Vol. 6. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 502 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1163 / 9789004475397"]}

Acrocercops gossypii Vári, 1961 (Figs 3A–F) Acrocercops gossypii; Vári 1961: 158–159; pl. 17, fig. 6; pl. 35, fig. 5; pl. 62, fig. 5; pl. 99, fig. 1. Material examined. 1♁, Cameroon, North Province, Faro riverside, 289 m, 08°23’N 012°49’E, 06.xii.2003, leg. J. De Prins. Gen. prep. VS563, in coll. RBINS. Diagnosis. Superficially Acrocercops gossypii is similar to many Afrotropical Acrocercopinae species with white transverse fasciae on the forewing. However, the male genitalia are highly distinctive with a group of long cornuti and two opposite hooks near the pointed apex of the aedeagus. In the female genitalia, it can be distinguished by a peculiar signum, consisting of spreading spines, and an oblong patch of short spines (for illustrations refer to Vári 1961, pl. 99, fig.1). Flight period. Specimens were collected in two periods of the year: from early April to the July and from early November (Vári 1961) to early December. Host plant(s). Gossypium herbaceum Linn., Malvaceae (Vári 1961). Distribution. South Africa (Vári 1961); Cameroon (new record). Remarks. The inclusion of Acrocercops gossypii to the genus Acrocercops is doubtful following the concept of the genus presented by Kuznetzov (1979) and Kumata et al. (1988a). Some morphological characters of A. gossypii, i.e., valva without any comb, and tergum VIII with a slender anterior apodeme which median sclerotization extending caudad onto the tergite, do not fit the generic diagnoses by Kuznetzov (1979) and Kumata et. al. (1988a). These two features are characteristic of species within the genus Telamoptilia. However, A. gossypii has an antennal scape without a flap of scales and the forewing contains vein R1. These characters are absent in the species of Telamoptilia, therefore, we refrain from suggesting a new combination until a more comprehensive analysis of these genera can be completed., Published as part of Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2023, New species, new country distribution records, and a new generic combination of Afrotropical Acrocercopinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), pp. 75-115 in Zootaxa 5285 (1) on pages 79-81, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5285.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7935737, {"references":["Vari, L. (1961) South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. Transvaal Museum Memoir, 12, 1 - 238.","Kuznetzov, V. I. (1979) A review of the genera of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) of the Palaearctic fauna. Revue d'Entomologie de l'URSS, 58 (4), 835 - 856.","Kumata, T., Kuroko, H. & Ermolaev, V. P. (1988 a) Japanese species of the Acrocercops-group (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Part I. Insecta Matsumurana, 38, 1 - 111."]}

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Eddie John & Christodoulos Makris. 2022. Butterflies of Cyprus. A Field Guide and Distribution Atlas. 17.5 × 25 cm, 399 p., Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International, UK, USA, Hardback: ISBN: 978-1-80062-125-1, ePDF: eISBN: 978-1-80062-126-8, ePub: eISBN: 978-1-80062-127-5, https://www.cabi.org/, 110,- EUR.

Visual evidence has become an important part of any faunistic or taxonomic record, which may often replace or supplement texts. Smartphone photography allows the formation of digital illustrations and scientific evidence without any time constraints or choice of subject. Today, every smartphone has a built-in video camera that can record insect behaviour in the field without any restrictions.

The Editor-in-Chief of Phegea attended the XXVI International Congress of Entomology in Helsinki, July 17–22, 2022. One of the hottest items was whether the Nagoya Protocol obstructs taxonomy science and the activities of taxonomists. The Protocol was agreed upon in 2010 and the entomological community has to comply with the fair access and benefit-sharing regulations defined by the Protocol. It might help to follow the Nagoya Protocol when biodiversity data are shared in a non-monetary way via global mega data aggregators and biodiversity data platforms.