Lithosiccia takanoi, Volynkin, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, Lithosiccia, a new genus with four new species from mainland Africa (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 65, pp. 24-39 : 28

Lithosiccia takanoi sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:33D73E82-E965-4B79-8EB2-9B247F920E78

( Figs 6 , 23 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 6 , 23 ): male, “ Sierra Leone 120m | Tiwai Island , Moa River | N07°33'00''; W11°21'09'' | 17–22.vi.2016 Light Trap | leg. Takano, Miles & Goff | ANHRT:2017.18” / “ANHRTUK | 00020605” / “Slide | AV4970 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.5 mm in the male holotype. Lithosiccia takanoi is externally reminiscent of L. juvenis but distinguished by the somewhat shorter rami of the male antenna, the slightly narrower forewing with a somewhat more tapered apex and a more ochreous ground colour, the blackishbrown and more distinct forewing markings (they are brown in the congener), and the discal marking of the forewing inclined more inwardly. In the male genital capsule, L. takanoi differs from L. juvenis in the longer, broader and symmetrical cuculli (they are asymmetrical in the congener), the more robust setae of the sacculus, and the shorter and distally thicker distal saccular process. The phallus of L. takanoi is somewhat shorter than in the congener (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex length). Compared to L. juvenis , the vesica of the new species is somewhat broader and bears a single massive cornutus whereas L. juvenis has a shorter and thinner cornutus along with a medial-dorsal diverticulum bearing an elongate cluster of spinules.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. As only a single specimen was sequenced, the intraspecific variability of COI-5P sequences of this species could not be calculated. The divergence from L. juvenis is provided above. The pairwise distance between L. takanoi and another neighbour, L. smithi is in the range of 6.37–6.71%.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in south-eastern Sierra Leone.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to the knowledgeable entomologist Dr Hitoshi Takano, Collections Manager, ANHRT, organiser and participant of several entomological expeditions in Africa and one of the collectors of the holotype. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 2–10. Lithosiccia spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 2 in CMNH (photo by V. Verdecia); 3 in GMF- B; 4, 7 and 8 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 5, 6, 9 and 10 in ANHRT.

Figures 23–25. Lithosiccia spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 23 in ANHRT; 24 and 25 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).