Siccia intermedia, 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 : 76

Siccia intermedia sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5396F45B-A32B-4E18-A654-A3CF923E34CE

( Figs 207, 208 , 415 , 513 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 207 , 415 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 352m | Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki | National Park , Ndoki formation | (Secondary forest) | 02°12'47.7''N, 16°23'45.8''E | 29.ix.–1.x.2022 Actinic Light Trap | Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., | Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. Leg. | ANHRT:2022.14” / “ANHRTUK | 00291542” / “Slide | AV7169 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. DRC: 1 male, 2 females, Salonga National Park , 02°45'22.79''S 20°18'55.56''E, Ekongo Camp, January 2017, V.D. Kravchenko & G.C. Müler, gen. prep. Nos.: AV7151 (male), AV7161 (female) ( GMF-B) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.5 mm in males and 7.0 mm in females. Siccia intermedia is externally very similar to S. margopuncta patterna and S. myraina , and the reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. Compared to another similar species, the allopatric S. trichota , the new species has a smaller discal spot on the forewing. The male genital capsule of S. intermedia is most similar to S. myraina due to the presence of the dense cluster of spines on the dorsal margin of the costa proximally as well as the cluster of a few robust spines on the anellus, and the medially constricted uncus. However, unlike S. myraina , the aforementioned cluster of spines on the dorsal margin of the costa of the new species is shorter and narrower, the valva is broader and has two large and one tiny process distally (more similar to S. trichota ), and the anellus bears fewer and thinner spines. Compared to S. myraina , the distal section of the valva of S. intermedia has a proximally thinner apical process of the cucullus, and a reduced distal process bearing a considerably smaller dorsal and a larger ventral process. The vesica configuration of the new species is reminiscent of S. myraina and S. trichota but distinguished by the longer medial diverticulum and the narrower distal multilobate diverticulum. In the female genitalia, S. intermedia is similar to S. trichota but differs in the shorter apophyses, the shorter but broader spinulose lateral subostial lobes, the broader lateral sclerotised plates of the 7 th sternite, and the shorter corpus bursae having a considerably longer posterior signum and smaller medial and anterior signa.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from Republic of the Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the new species’ valva structure, which combines features of S. myraina and S. trichota .

Figures

Figures 207–222. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 207, 209, 210, 212–216, and 220–222 in ANHRT (214: ex AKW); 211 in MfN; 217–219 in RMCA.

Figures 415–418. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT (417: ex AKW).

Figures 513–516. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 513 in GMF-B; 514–516 in ANHRT.