Siccia kingstoni, 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 : 64-65

Siccia kingstoni sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FAA3CF2C-9E6E-4E1B-B834-1EE5FB3478C7

( Figs 162 , 389 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 162 , 389 ): male, “ Malawi – Central Region | Lilongwe District – 1,560m | Ntchisi Forest Reserve | E034'00.677' S13'22.073' [13°22.073'S 34°00.677'E] | 18–19.ii.[20]04 – A.J. Kingston ” / “Slide | AV6589 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT, ex AKW).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 9.0 mm in the male holotype. The new species is externally reminiscent of S. tanzaniae but distinguished by the larger spots of the forewing pattern. In the male genital capsule, S. kingstoni differs from S. melanospila and S. tanzaniae in the proximally narrower and distally strongly dilated and bilobate ventral lobe of the cucullus with a larger and triangular distal lobe and a smaller, distally curved, thorn-like proximal lobe. Additionally, in the new species, the ventral costal lobe bears a cluster of more robust spines than in the aforementioned congeners, and the dorsal lobe of the cucullus is more distally dilated and downcurved. The phallus of S. kingstoni is similar to S. tanzaniae but has a somewhat longer dorsal carinal plate. The vesica of the new species has a shorter ventral diverticulum and main chamber than in S. tanzaniae , and a longer and broader main chamber than in S. melanospila .

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is known only from its type locality in central Malawi.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Anthony J. Kingston (Wolverhampton, UK), collector of the holotype specimen. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 149–162. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 149, 150, 152–154, and 162 in ANHRT (154 and 162: ex AKW); 155–159 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 160 in ZSM; 161 in AKW.

Figures 385–389. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 385–387 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 388 in ZSM; 389 in ANHRT (ex AKW).