Siccia comma, 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 : 96-97

Siccia comma sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8423CF0B-1E92-423E-A9FA-431677E4DD0E

( Figs 267 , 451 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 267 , 451 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 352m | Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki | National Park , Ndoki formation| (Secondary forest) | 02°12'47.7''N, 16°23'48.8''E | 29.ix.–1.x.2022 Actinic Light Trap | Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., | Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. Leg. | ANHRT:2022.14” / “ANHRTUK | 00291553” / “Slide | AV6994 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 male, 365m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Mondika camp, 02°21'50.63''N 16°16'25.82''E, 07–14.ii.2023, LepiLED light trap, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7047 ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 341m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Bomassa camp, 02°12'36.9''N 16°11'30.2''E, 20–21.ii.2023, actinic light trap, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7048 ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 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) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.0 mm in the male holotype. Siccia comma is externally reminiscent of S. mayombe but distinguished by the somewhat larger size, the broader forewing with a more convex costal margin and a more elongate apex, the paler, brownish-grey forewing ground colour (it is pale brown in the congener), the larger and comma-shaped discal spot of the forewing (it is circular in S. mayombe ), the somewhat larger subapical spot at the costal margin, and the somewhat more greyish hindwing. In the male genital capsule, the new species differs from S. mayombe in the distally narrower uncus, and the somewhat narrower valvae with thinner and slightly downcurved cuculli (they are almost straight in the congener). The phallus of S. comma is less anteriorly dilated than in S. mayombe , and its distal section is more laterally curved. Compared to S. mayombe , the vesica of S. comma is somewhat shorter and narrower, the dorsal diverticulum bears a shorter cornutus laterally, the subbasal diverticulum is narrower, and the distal diverticulum is proximally narrower.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from north-eastern Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the characteristic comma-shaped discal spot on the forewing of the new species. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 263–280. Siccia spp. (263–278) and Palaeosiccia punctata (279, 280), adults. Depositories of the specimens: 263, 264, 267, 269, 273–275, 277, and 280 in ANHRT; 265, 266, 268, 272, and 279 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 270 and 276 in MfN; 271 in NHRS (©NHRS, photo by T. Malm); 278 in AKW.

Figures 450–453. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 450 and 452 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 451 and 453 in ANHRT.