Siccasura morettoi Volynkin & László, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V. & László, Gyula M., 2021, Siccasura, a new genus for the Afrasura numida (Holland, 1893) species-group, with descriptions of six new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 40, pp. 1-25 : 20-22

Siccasura morettoi Volynkin & László , sp. nov.

( Figs 17–20 , 47, 48 , 61 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 17 , 47 ): male, “ Ivory Coast, 174m Tai NP Tai Research Station, 05°49'59.8"N, 07°20'32”W, 5–10.VII.2015 Light Trap Aristophanous, M., Moretto, P., Ruzzier, E. leg. ANHRT:2017.14”, unique number: ANHRTUK 00030848, gen. slide No.: AV5789 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (31 males, 13 females in total). IVORY COAST: 2 males, 3 females, with the same data as in the holotype, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00030840, 00108191, 00108208, 00109057, 00109116, gen. slide Nos. : AV6169, AV6170, AV6171 (females); 3 males, same site and collectors, 14–23.xi.2015, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00073596 (DNA barcode id: ANHRT021-20 /ANHRTUK-00073596), 00073642, 00073643, gen. slide Nos.: AV 3076, AV3077, AV5790 (males); 3 males, same site, 25.III.– 17.iv.2017, leg. Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P., ANHRT : 2017.25. unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00001415 (DNA barcode id: ANHRT018-20 /ANHRTUK-00001415), 00161386, 00164900, gen. slide Nos.: AV3349 (male); 1 male, 1 female, Abidjan, Banco Forest ( Parc National du Banco ), 39–48m, 05°23'03.8"N, 04°03'11.2W, 21.–30.IV.2017, MV Light Trap, Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous , M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg. ANHRT : 2017.25, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00164925, 00166350, gen. slide No.: AV6164 (female); 2 females, Banco National park , 40m, 05°23'3.8"N, 04°03'11.2"W, 29.xi.–5.xii.2019, Actinic Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V ., Moretto , P., Ouattara, S. leg., ANHRT : 2019.23, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00134315, 00134316, gen. slide Nos.: AV6165, AV6166 (females) ( ANHRT) . LIBERIA: 6 males, 1 female, Sinoe County, Krahn-Bassa Reserve, Juboe River , 7.5km SW Pellokon Town, 140m, 5°39'4"N, 8°39'4"W, 14–20.I.2018, MV Light Trap , Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT : 2017.33, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00095681, 00095683, 00100834, 00100839, 00101861, 00101866 (DNA barcode id: ANHRT023-20 /ANHRTUK-00101866), 00101868, gen. slide No.: AV5797 (female); 2 males, 2 females, same data but collected by 250W blended bulb light trap, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00095315, 00095316, 00095349, 00095352, gen. slide Nos.: AV6128, AV6134 (females); 1 male, same data but collected by cold cathode UV bucket light trap, unique number: ANHRTUK 00101063; 7 males, 4 females, Lofa County, Foya Proposed Protected Area , 530m, 7°56'36"N, 10°16'36"W, 10–19.xi.2017, MV Light Trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., ANHRT : 2017.33, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00026281, 00026463, 00026466 (DNA barcode id: ANHRT020-20 /ANHRTUK-00026466), 00026468, 00037574, 00039102, 00037586, 00037587, 00037589 (DNA barcode id: ANHRT019-20 /ANHRTUK-00037589), 00037591, 00142307, gen. slide Nos.: AV5220 (male), AV5214, AV6159, AV6160, AV6161 (females); 1 male, same data but collected by cold cathode light bucket trap, unique number: ANHRTUK 00020488; 1 male, same data but collected by 8 W actinic light bucket trap, unique number: ANHRTUK 00148188; 1 male, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts , base camp forest, 611m, 8°07'17"N, 9°57'42"W, 20.xi.–01.xii.2017, MV Light Trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., ANHRT : 2017.33, unique number: ANHRTUK 00020330; 1 male, Lofa County, Zuwulor Village School, 230m, 7°54'52"N, 9°31'08"W, 8.xi.2017, Light Trap (blended bulb 250W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L., leg. ANHRT : 2017.33, unique number: ANHRTUK 00039338; 2 males, Sinoe County, 6.5km NW of Jacksonville, Forest near Solve Problem Village , 103m, 5°26'25"N, 9°7'39.9"W, 23–27.i.2018, MV Light Trap , Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2017.33, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00095724, 00095734 ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6–7 mm in males and 7–8 mm in females. The male genitalia of the new species slightly vary in the width of the tip of the ventro-distal process of the valva. The male genital capsule of S. morettoi is similar to that of S. spatulata but differs from it by the somewhat shorter juxta, the wider cucullus, the slightly longer ventro-distal process of the valva having a boot-shaped tip (it is spatulate in S. spatulata ), and the somewhat shorter sacculus. The vesica of S. morettoi is slightly shorter than in S. spatulata . Compared to S. spatulata , the female genitalia of S. morettoi have longer ventral crests of the 7 th sternite, a somewhat more elongate postvaginal plate with a longer constricted medial section and a wider and shorter dorsal plate of the posterior section of the ductus bursae. Additionally, S. morettoi lacks a horseshoe-shaped antevaginal plate, which is a specific character of S. spatulata .

Distribution. The species is currently known from Ivory Coast and Liberia.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Philippe Moretto, a specialist in Scarabaeinae and one of the collectors of the type series, who has over the years undertaken many entomological surveys throughout Ivory Coast.

Figures

Figures 17–24. Siccasura spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 17–22 and 24 in ANHRT; 23 in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 47–50. Siccasura spp.: male genitalia. The specimens are deposited in ANHRT.

Figures 61–66. Siccasura (61 and 62) and Afrasura (63–66) spp.: female genitalia. 63 is the type species of Afrasura. Depositories of the specimens: 61–64 and 66 in ANHRT; 65 in ZSM.