Siccia kpelle, 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 : 47-48

Siccia kpelle sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2934FF90-F1B1-4CFE-AD52-DF5C64336A8C

( Figs 100–102 , 353, 354 , 484 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 100 , 353 ): male, “ Liberia 530m | Lofa County, Foya Proposed | Protected Area | 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” / “ANHRTUK | 00020140” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV4621 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. LIBERIA: 6 males, the same data as holotype, MV (125w) and 8w Actinic Light Traps, gen. prep. Nos.: AV4615, AV4617, AV4619, AV4620 ( ANHRT) ; 3 males, 15m, Grand Cape Mount County, Lake Piso area , 6˚39'19.19.''N, 11˚7'71.35''W, 2–9.i.2019, MV Light Trap, Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 10 males, 140m, Sinoe County, Krahn-Bassa Reserve, Juboe River , 7.5km SW Pellokon Town, 5˚39'4''N, 8˚39'4''W, 14–20.i.2018, Blended bulb 250w and Cold Cathode UV Bucket Light Traps, Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., gen. prep. Nos.: AV5669, AV5676, AV5677, AV5678, AV5679, AV5680, AV5681, AV5682, AV5683, AV5684 ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 1 female, 585m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Rosewood Camp , 8˚06'14.9''N, 9˚58'27.3''W, 18.xi.–1.xii.2018, Cold Cathode UV (8w) and MV Light Traps, Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., gen. prep. Nos.: AV5104 (male), AV5661 (female) ( ANHRT) ; IVORY COAST: 1 male, 174m, Taï NP, Taï Research Station ( SRET) , 05˚50'00''N, 07˚20'32.0''W, 25.iii.– 17.iv.2017, MV light, Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV3359 ( ANHRT) ; GHANA: 1 male, Ankasa N.P. – Entrance , 5°13'N, 2°39'W, 80m, 05.vi.2011, J. & W. De Prins leg. / De Prins Coll. BMNH (E) 2014-125, unique number: NHMUK010605623 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; GABON: 1 male, 10m, Nyonié ( Lowland forest ), 0˚2'22''S, 9˚20'25''E, 23– 28.viii.2019, LepiLED Light Trap, Albert, J.-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P. leg. ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.0– 7.5 mm in males and 8.5 mm in the female. Siccia kpelle is externally similar to the sympatric S. foya but can be distinguished by the somewhat smaller size, the larger spots of the forewing pattern, and the markedly darker hindwing. In the male genital capsule, the new species differs from S. foya in the presence of the subapical dorsal costal lobe of the valva, the smaller medial costal lobe lacking the medial thorn, and the shorter and thinner cucullus having a tiny second process situated subapically whereas it has two equal apical processes in the congener. The phalli of the two species are alike. In the vesica, S. kpelle has a short semielliptical medial-distal diverticulum whereas it is longer and utricular in S. foya . The detailed comparison with S. ziela is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species. The female genitalia of the new species differ from S. foya in the broader antrum with somewhat broader lateral sclerotised plates, the broader anterior plate of the ductus bursae lacking the longitudinal medial groove, and the broader and somewhat longer corpus bursae bearing a signum anteriorly. The lateral subostial lobes of S. kpelle are considerably broader and more heavily sclerotised than in S. foya .

Molecular data. The intraspecific divergence of COI-5P sequences calculated from 13 sampled specimens is in the range of 0.00–2.03%. The nearest neighbours of S. kpelle are S. ziela and S. chilambwe differing by 2.99–3.97% and 3.15–4.63%, respectively.

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

Etymology. The new species is named after the Kpelle people, the largest ethnic group in Liberia. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 95–111. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 95–105 and 107–111 in ANHRT; 106 in GMF-B.

Figures 353–356. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.

Figures 484–487. Siccia spp., female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.