Sicciaemorpha nebulibia, Volynkin & Černý, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V. & Černý, Karel, 2021, Taxonomic review of the genus Sicciaemorpha van Eecke (Lepidoptera Erebidae: Arctiinae), with descriptions of six new species from Malaysia and the Philippines, Zootaxa 4985 (1), pp. 69-80 : 72-73

Sicciaemorpha nebulibia sp. n.

( Figs 6–8 , 18 , 24 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 6 , 18 ): male, “Philipp[ines]./ N. Luzon, Mts. Prov. [Mountain Province], Chatol - 1600m, 15km SE Bontoc, 17°02´N Breite [latitude] / 121°03´E Länge [longitude], Nebelurwald [cloud primary forest], 24.ix., 14.x.1988, leg. Cerny [recte Černý] & Schintlmeister” / “coll. Th. Witt München /Weiden” / “Slide ZSM Arct. 2019- 145♂ A. Volynkin ” (MWM/ ZSM) .

Paratypes. THE PHILIPPINES: 5 males, 4 females, same data as holotype, gen. prep. Nos.: ZSM Arct. 2019-145 (female), ZSM Arct. 2019-147 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM); 4 males, 7 females, same data as holotype ( CKC); 2 males, 1 female, N Luzon, Ifugao, Mt. Polis , 16 km SSE Bontoc, 17 02´N, 121°01´E, primary cloud forest, 1900m, 9.II.–13.II.1988, leg. Černý & Schintlmeister, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-148 (male) (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM); 2 males, 2 females, same data as previous ( CKC); 1 male, 2 females, same locality and collectors as previous, but 23.IX.1988 ( CKC); 1 male, 1 female, N Luzon, Mountain Prov., Mt. Amuyao , 22 km SE Bontoc, 17°00´N 121°09´E, primary cloud forest, 2450–2700m, 15.II.–16.II.1988, leg. Černý & Schintlmeister ( CKC); 3 males, 3 females, N Luzon , Mountain Prov. , Mt. Amuyao , 22 km SE Bontoc, primary cloud forest, 1900m, 25.IX.1988, leg. Černý & Schintlmeister ( CKC) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 10–10.5 mm in both sexes. Superficially, the new species is reminiscent of S. danepan sp. n. due to the white coloration, but differs by the somewhat less elongate forewing and the larger black spots on the forewing costa. The male genital capsule of S. nebulibia sp. n. is most similar to that of S. langgona sp. n., but differs by the shorter (ca. 1/5 of the length of the membranous distal lobe vs. 1/ 4 in S. langgona sp. n.) and symmetrical costal processes (they are asymmetrical in S. langgona sp. n.), the shorter (in comparison to the length of the membranous distal lobe) and distally tapered and curved ventro-distal process of the valva (in S. langgona sp. n., it is longer than the membranous distal lobe, distally wider and almost straight, and apically rounded and setose), and the shorter (in comparison to the length of the membranous distal lobe) triangular distal saccular process (it is longer and stick-shaped in S. langgona sp. n.). Additionally, in S. nebulibia sp. n., the uncus is medially dilated (whereas it is dilated subbasally in S. langgona sp. n.), and the saccus is rectangular (whereas it is U-shaped in S. langgona sp. n.). The distal section and the carina of the aedeagus are dentate ventrally, whereas aedeagi of the congeners have smooth surface. The female genitalia of S. nebulibia sp. n. differ clearly from those of other congeners (when known) by the large ventro-lateral pockets of the 7 th sternite, the wider anterior section of the ductus bursae (in comparison to the corpus bursae width), and the larger, globular appendix bursae (whereas it is small and elliptical in other species of the genus). The antrum of the new species is similar to that of S. pleiadina sp. n., but differs from it by the shallower and rectangular incision of the ostium bursae, whereas that of S. pleiadina sp. n. is deeper, narrower and triangular.

Distribution. Known from the Philippine Island of Luzon.

Etymology. ‘Nebula’ is ‘a fog’ in Latin. The species name refers to its habitat in mountain cloud forests.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Sicciaemorpha spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 and 2 in RMNH; 3 and 5–8 in MWM/ZSM; 4 in CKC.

FIGURES 15–18. Sicciaemorpha spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 15 in RMNH; 16–18 in MWM/ ZSM.

FIGURES 22–27. Sicciaemorpha spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 22 in RMNH; 23, 25 and 27 in CKC; 24 and 26 in MWM/ZSM.