Siccia melanospila Hampson, 1911

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 : 63-64

Siccia melanospila Hampson, 1911

( Figs 155–157 , 385, 386 , 498 )

Siccia melanospila Hampson, 1911 , The Annals and magazine of natural history; zoology, botany, and geology, 8 (46): 404 (Type locality: [ Kenya, Kiambu County] “ Br. E. Africa, Kikuyu, Escarpment”).

Type material examined. Lectotype (hereby designated) ( Figs 155 , 385 ): male, “Escarpment | 7500–8500 ft. | Kikuyu: Ibea | E. Africa | IX–X. 1900 | Doherty Wlsn. GM. | 1910–166.” / “ Siccia | melanospila | type ♂. Hmpsn” / blue ring label “ Syn- | type” / “ Arctiidae | Brit. Mus. slide | No. 6045 ♂ ” ( NHMUK) . Paralectotypes: 2 males, 1 female, the same data as lectotype ( NHMUK) .

Additional material examined. KENYA: 1 male, Nairobi, vi.1958, unique number: NHMUK010916011, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010314607 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, 1 female, Escarpment, B. [ritish] E.[ast] A.[frica], xi.1901, 6500–9000 ft., W. Doherty, unique numbers: NHMUK010916025, NHMUK010916026, gen. prep. Nos.: NHMUK010314621 (male), NHMUK010314622 (female) (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) .

Note. In the original description of the species, Hampson (1911) mentioned three males and one female as “Type”. In order to stabilise the nomenclature, the dissected male syntype is hereby designated as the lectotype.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 10.5–11.0 mm in both sexes. Siccia melanospila externally differs from the other species in the species-group in its larger size, the more elongate forewing apex, and the spots of the postmedial line connected by blackish suffusion and forming an almost continuous fascia whereas the postmedial line is indistinct in the similar congeners. The genitalia of both sexes of S. melanospila are similar to S. tanzaniae and the detailed comparison is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The species is known from Kenya ( Hampson 1911).

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).

Figures 496–499. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 496 and 497 in ANHRT; 498 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 499 in AKW.