Siccia takanoi, 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 : 70-71

Siccia takanoi sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EEAC6D8C-87C7-4E20-AB1E-8A10A64C07D7

( Figs 187–189 , 405 , 506 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 187 , 405 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 349m | Likouala Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki | National Park , Makao forest | (Secondary forest) | 02°36'42.5''N, 17°09'23.8''E | 24–29.ix.2022 Actinic Light Trap | Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., | Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. Leg. | ANHRT:2022.14” / “ANHRTUK | 00292658” / “Slide | AV6977 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 male, the same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: AV6980 ( ANHRT) ; 1 female, 358m, Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Bomassa forest (Secondary forest), 02°11'58.1''N, 16°11'16.9''E, 17–23.ix. 2022, LepiLED L.T., Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6981 ( ANHRT) ; 4 males, 372m, Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Mbeli camp ( Gilbertiodendron forest), 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E, 1–10.x.2022, Actinic & LepiLED Light Traps, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 2 males, 1 female, 372m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Mbeli camp, 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E, 14–20.ii.2023, MV & LepiLED light traps, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 2 males, 341m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Bomassa camp, 02°12'36.9''N 16°11'30.2''E, 01–02.ii.2023, actinic light trap, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 1 female, 365m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Mondika camp, 02°21'50.63''N 16°16'25.82''E, 07–14.ii.2023, actinic & LepiLED light traps, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. ( 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.: AV7154 ( GMF-B) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.0– 9.5 mm in males and 9.0–10.0 mm in females. Siccia takanoi is externally reminiscent of S. alberti and large specimens of S. microsticta , S. durantei , and S. curvalva but can be distinguished by the somewhat broader forewing with reduced markings. The male genital capsule of the new species is similar to S. alberti from which, however, S. takanoi differs in the proximally narrower valva, the rugose ventral edge of the costa (it is smooth in the congener), and the noticeably longer and triangular ventral process of the cucullus, which is trapezoidal in S. alberti . Additionally, the distal saccular process of S. takanoi is straight and bears short setae whereas it is upcurved, bearing markedly longer setae dorsally in S. alberti . The phallus of the new species is almost straight and of uniform width whereas it is medially upcurved and distally dilated in S. alberti . The vesica configurations of the two species are similar but in S. takanoi , the dorsal (largest) diverticulum bears fewer and shorter cornuti, and the distal diverticulum is somewhat shorter than in the congener. In the female genitalia, the new species is distinguished from S. alberti by the narrower and shorter lateral subostial lobes, the larger and denser clusters of spines in the corpus bursae, and the lack of the lateral sclerotised plates of the 7 th sternite. The detailed comparison with another similar species, S. micronodula is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is known from Republic of the Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to the knowledgeable entomologist Dr Hitoshi Takano, Collections Manager, ANHRT, organiser and participant of several entomological expeditions in Africa and one of the collectors of the main part of the type series. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 179–189. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 179 and 185 in MWM/ZSM; 180 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 181–184, 186, 187 and 189 in ANHRT; 188 in GMF-B.

Figures 403–406. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited 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).