Siccia stictica Hampson, 1914

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 : 72-73

Siccia stictica Hampson, 1914

( Figs 191–195 , 409, 410 , 508 )

Siccia stictica Hampson, 1914 , Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British museum (Supplement), 1: 705, pl. 37: fig. 12 (Type locality: [ Ghana, Bibiani] ‘Gold Coast, Bibianaha”).

Type material examined. Holotype (by monotypy) ( Figs 191 , 508 ): female, “ Gold Coast. | Bibianaha. | 24– 26.X.1911. | H.G.F.Spurrell. | 1911–413.” / “ Siccia | stictica | type ♀. Hmpsn” / red ring “Type” label / “ Arctiidae | Brit. Mus. slide | No. 6042 ♀ ” / QR-code label with unique number: “NHMUK 010914271” ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined. LIBERIA: 3 males, 611m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Base camp forest, 8°07'17''N 9°57'42''W, 20.xi.–01.xii.2017, MV light trap (125w), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G., Smith, L. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6582 ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 530m, Foya Proposed Protected Area , Lofa County, 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., gen. prep. No.: AV6593 ( ANHRT) ; REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 3 males, 372m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Mbeli camp, 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E, 14–20.ii.2023, MV & actinic light traps, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg., gen. prep. Nos.: AV7174, AV7175 ( ANHRT) ; DRC: 1 male, Salonga National Park , 02°45'22.79''S 20°18'55.56''E, Ekongo Camp, January 2017, V.D. Kravchenko & G.C. Müler, gen. prep. No.: AV7158 ( GMF-B) .

Note. The species is currently known from the female holotype. The male specimens from Liberia, Republic of the Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo are provisionally assigned to S. stictica in the present paper due to the external similarity to the holotype and the lack of females originating from these areas. However, these males may represent a distinct, yet undescribed species but additional fresh material of both sexes suitable for a molecular analysis is necessary for clarification.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 9.0 mm in the female holotype and 8.0– 8.5 mm in the possible males. The female genitalia of the S. stictica holotype are most reminiscent of S. imana but distinguished by the lateral sclerotised plates of the ostium bursae being densely covered with robust spines. Additionally, compared to S. imana , the corpus bursae of S. stictica is shorter and narrower, bearing a broader posterior plate, a shorter lateral area of spinulose scobination, and a markedly shorter lateral cluster consisting of shorter and thinner spines.

The genital capsule of the possible male is vaguely reminiscent of S. ursulae due to the presence of the proximal lobe of the sacculus bearing a cluster of spines along its dorsal margin, which is, however, markedly narrower in the possible S. stictica . Additionally, the valva of the possible S. stictica is longer than in S. ursulae and has a rectangular cucullus (it has a triangular ventral lobe in the congener), and the distal saccular process is markedly longer, foot-shaped and bears an elongate cluster of setae along its outer margin whereas in S. ursulae , it is club-shaped and evenly covered with setae. The phallus of the possible S. stictica is more anteriorly tapered than in S. ursulae . The vesica of the possible S. stictica is distinguished from S. ursulae and similar species by the larger dorsal diverticulum with a club-shaped medial subdiverticulum bearing four cornuti whereas in the other species in the species-group, the cornuti are situated on the largest dorsal diverticulum laterally.

Molecular data. As only a single specimen was sequenced in this study, the intraspecific variability of COI-5P sequences of this species could not be calculated. Since the molecular data are currently unavailable for the similar S. ursulae , the COI-5P sequences of the possible S. stictica were compared with S. microsticta , S. durantei and S. curvalva , from which the possible S. stictica diverges by 5.63–6.84%.

Distribution. The species is known from Ghana ( Hampson 1914) and, possibly, Liberia, Republic of the Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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 407–410. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 407 in MWM/ZSM; 408 in MfN; 409 and 410 in ANHRT.

Figures 505–508. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 505–507 in ANHRT; 508 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).