Siccia nyasa, 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 : 86

Siccia nyasa sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E948DFE2-D6DC-423C-A680-F231E6D24680

( Figs 233 , 426 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 233 , 426 ): male, [ Malawi, Mulanje] “Mlanje, | Nyasaland. | 4·4·13 [4.iv.1913]” / “Rothschild | Bequest | B.M.1939-1.” / QR-code label with unique number “NHMUK010292545”, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK014331251 (prepared by Volynkin ) ( NHMUK).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.0 mm in the male holotype. Siccia nyasa is externally reminiscent of S. hackeri but can be distinguished from it by the broader forewing with a somewhat more convex costal margin, the paler, creamy forewing ground colour (it is pale ochreous in the congener), the larger spots of the antemedial line, the larger discal spot, and the considerably paler, greyish hindwing whereas it is brownish-grey in S. hackeri . The male genital capsule of the new species is reminiscent of S. hackeri due to the lack of the penicular setae and small subuncal lobes, but differs clearly from it in the medially concave costa lacking the medial processes but bearing a cluster of spinules proximally. The sacculur structure of S. nyasa is strongly different from S. hackeri and is similar to that of S. bicolorata , S. mukuyu , S. kundalila and S. lydiae due to the presence of the proximal process and the narrow distal process but the latter one is more elongate and directed distally in the current new species whereas those processes are directed ventrally in the aforementioned congeners. Unlike S. hackeri , the distal section of the costa of S. nyasa is considerably narrower bearing a cluster of markedly smaller spines apically. Additionally, compared to S. hackeri , the uncus of S. nyasa is shorter, and the anellus lacks processes. The phallus of the new species is shorter and broader than in S. hackeri with a considerably longer carina. The vesica of S. nyasa is significantly broader than in the similar congener and has a large, trilobate dorsal diverticulum, a longer and narrower distal diverticulum, and bears a shorter and thinner terminal cornutus.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in the Southern Region of Malawi.

Etymology. The new species is named after the Nyasa people inhabiting Malawi, south-western Tanzania and northern Mozambique.

Figures

Figures 223–239. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 223 in MHNG (photo by B. Landry); 224, 225, 227, 229–231, and 238, 239 in ANHRT (227: ex AKW); 226 and 233 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 228, 236 and 237 in ALW; 232 in MWM/ZSM; 234 and 235 in MfN.

Figures 423–426. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 423 and 424 in ANHRT; 425 in MWM/ZSM; 426 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).