Siccia myraina, 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 : 75-76

Siccia myraina sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6596CE79-5FA9-40C4-B40E-913627077497

( Figs 205, 206 , 414 , 512 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 205 , 414 ): male, “ Gabon 430m | Mikongo (Rougier) , Monts | de Cristal (Secondary forest) | 0°29'47''N, 11°10'42''E | 28.vii.–12.viii.2019 Actinic Light | Albert, J-L., Aristophanous, M., | Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., | Moretto, P. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.17” / “ANHRTUK | 00111109” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV6540 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. GABON: 8 males, 2 females, the same data as holotype, MV, LepiLED and Actinic Light Traps, gen. prep. No.: AV6541 (female) ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.0– 7.5 mm in males and 6.5–7.0 mm in females. Siccia myraina is externally reminiscent of S. margopuncta patterna but distinguished by the somewhat narrower forewing with larger spots in the cell. The male genital capsule of the new species is clearly different from other similar congeners in the cucullus bearing three thin thorns dorsally, the presence of two spike-like distal processes of the valva encircling the subapical plate and directed ventrally and outwardly. The detailed comparison with the similar S. intermedia is provided below in the diagnosis of the later species. The female genitalia of the new species are distinguished from the similar congeners by the strongly dilated postvaginal area bearing two zigzagged dense clusters of spinules medially and two broad lateral scobinated clusters laterally. Additionally, in the corpus bursae of S. myraina one of the signa is strongly elongate whereas in the other similar congeners, the signa are plate-like or shuttlecock-shaped.

Molecular data. The species is genetically uniform with 0.00% intraspecific variability based on four sequenced specimens. Siccia myraina diverges from S. margopuncta patterna and S. trichota by 3.31– 3.64% and 2.83–3.15%, respectively.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in Gabon.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘μύραινα’ meaning ‘lamprey’ and refers to the dentate apex of the valva, which is reminiscent of the mouthparts of a lamprey. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 190–206. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 190 and 198 in MfN; 191, 196 and 197 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 192–195, 199–201, and 203–206 in ANHRT; 202 in GMF-B.

Figures 411–414. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 411 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 412 in MfN; 413 and 414 in ANHRT.

Figures 509–512. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 509 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 510 in MfN; 511 and 512 in ANHRT.