Siccia mbeli, Volynkin, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Siccia Walker (= Aemene Walker, syn. n.) in the Afrotropics with descriptions of seventy-three new species, three new subspecies, and a check-list of Asiatic taxa of the genus (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 64, pp. 1-184 : 58

Siccia mbeli sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FFF10C89-3A18-4C70-AED7-41EA732027A4

( Figs 134, 135 , 374 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 134 , 374 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 372m | Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , | Mbeli camp | 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E | 14–20.ii.2023, MV light trap | Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., | Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. | ANHRT:2023.3” / “ANHRTUK | 00312136” / “Slide | AV7156 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratype. REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 male, D’Ozala [Odzala-Kokoua] Parc National, 400–500m, 1°00'N 15°00'E, 29 January – 3 March 1997, S. Murzin & V. Sinyaev leg., ex coll. A. Schintlmeister, gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2020-025 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 9.5–10.0 mm males. Siccia mbeli is externally very similar to S. rarita , S. megista and S. cretata , and identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genital capsule of the new species is reminiscent of S. kibale but distinguished by the shorter and narrower valva with a cucullus bearing two short, swollen and claw-like, inwardly curving distal processes with spine-like tips. The ventral costal lobe of S. mbeli is broad, semielliptical, and with a densely serrulate inner surface and ventral margin whereas it is trapezoidal and ventrally and inwardly dentate in S. kibale . Additionally, the juxta of the new species is markedly shorter and the vinculum is longer than those structures in S. kibale . The phallus of S. mbeli is longer than in S. kibale and is medially upcurved whereas it is almost straight in the congener. The vesica of the new species differs clearly from the similar congeners in the markedly longer medio-lateral and distal diverticula.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is known from two localities in Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of the type locality, Mbeli camp, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 125–136. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 125–131, 133–135 in ANHRT; 132 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 136 in MfN.

Figures 373–376. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 373 in MfN; 374 and 375 in ANHRT; 376 in MWM/ZSM.