Siccia ndoki, 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 : 91

Siccia ndoki sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D8AA309D-F962-492A-85A7-F101B1838E99

( Figs 253 , 441 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 253 , 441 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 356m | Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki | N.P., Ndoki formation camp | (Secondary forest) | 02°12'51.5''N, 16°23'40.1''E | 23.vi.2022 Actinic Light Trap | Dérozier, V. Leg. | ANHRT:2022.9” / “ANHRTUK | 00275185” / “Slide | AV6885 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.0 mm in the male holotype. Siccia ndoki is most externally reminiscent of S. bilobata but differs in the somewhat more elongate forewing with a paler ground colour, which is greyish with ochreous suffusion (vs. pale ochreous in the congener), and the more distinct, black spots in the cell (whereas they are brown in S. bilobata ). Despite the external similarity, the male genitalia of the two species are greatly different and those of the new species are very similar to S. robusta . Compared to the latter species, the male genital capsule of S. ndoki has a broader juxta and markedly larger spinules on the ventral margin of the ventral costal lobe. In the phallus, S. ndoki differs from S. robusta in the lack of the distal lateral dentate plate. The vesica of the new species is distinguished from S. robusta by the broader and more globular main chamber, the shorter proximal lateral diverticulum, the larger medial diverticulum, and the narrower distal diverticulum.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in north-eastern Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of the type locality, Ndoki formation camp, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 240–262. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 240 in NHRS (©NHRS, photo by T. Malm); 241 and 243 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 242 in AKW; 244–246 in MWM/ZSM; 247–262 in ANHRT.

Figures 438–441. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.