Siccia trichota, 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 : 76-77

Siccia trichota sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E6C8E1CE-ECE5-439A-B07F-3448C57477C5

( Figs 209, 210 , 416 , 514 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 209 , 416 ): male, “ Liberia 585m | Lofa County, Wologizi Mts., | Rosewood Camp | 8°06'14.9''N, 9°58'27.3''W | 18.xi–1.xii.2018 MV Light Trap | Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. Leg. | ANHRT:2018.43” / “ANHRTUK | 00070086” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV6666 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. LIBERIA: 1 male, the same data as holotype ( ANHRT) ; 3 males, 1 female, 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.: AV4465, AV5045 (males), AV4475 (female) ( ANHRT) ; 5 males, 530m, Lofa County, Foya Proposed Protected Area , 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. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 865m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Ridge camp, 807'10''N, 9˚57'11''W, 24– 29.xi.2017, Light Trap (blended bulb 250w), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 female, 883m, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts., Ridge Camp 2, 8˚7'20.79''N, 9˚56'50.75''W, 22– 31.xi.2018, Light Trap Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 female, 140m, Sinoe County, Krahn-Bassa Reserve, Juboe River , 7.5km SW Pellokon Town, 5˚39'4''N, 8˚39'4''W, 14– 21.i.2018, Cold Cathode UV Bucket Light Trap, Geiser, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; GUINEA: 1 female, 540–600m, 619km ESE of Conakry, Nzerekore Region, Prefecture Lola, Ziela env., x.2017, 7°42'N, 8°21'W, Local collectors leg. ( ANHRT) ; IVORY COAST: 2 males, 174m, Taï NP, Taï Research Station ( SRET) , 05˚50'00''N, 07˚20'32.0''W, 25.iii.–17.iv.2017, MV Light Trap, Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, the same locality as previous but 14– 23.xi.[20]15, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Moretto, P., Ruzzier, E. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV3322 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.5–7.5 mm in males and 7.0– 7.5 mm in females. Siccia trichota is externally reminiscent of S. myraina but distinguished by the somewhat broader forewing with a darker ochreous ground colour, the remarkably larger discal spot of the forewing, and the markedly darker hindwing. The male genital capsule of S. trichota is vaguely reminiscent of S. margopuncta but differs clearly in the proximally dilated valva (it is proximally tapered in the aforementioned congeners), the broader and distally tapered cucullus bearing a long and robust spike-like apical process, and the broad, crest-like distal process of the valva bearing two large, apically pointed and ventrally directed thorn-shaped processes. The phallus of the new species is somewhat longer than in the similar congeners. The vesica configuration of S. trichota is largely dissimilar to S. margopuncta and is reminiscent of S. myraina and S. intermedia , from which, however, it differs in the shorter subbasal diverticulum, the shorter medial diverticulum, and the broader distal multilobate diverticulum bearing considerably more numerous and smaller subdiverticula. The female genitalia of S. trichota are most similar to S. intermedia and the detailed comparison is provided above in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to another similar species, S. myraina , the female genitalia have a narrower and weakly sclerotised postvaginal area and sclerotised and densely setose lateral subostial lobes whereas in S. myraina , the postvaginal area is strongly dilated bearing two zigzagged dense clusters of spinules medially and two broad lateral scobinated clusters laterally, and the lateral subostial lobes are vestigial. Additionally, the signa bursae of the new species are somewhat larger than in S. myraina and bear longer spines.

Molecular data. The intraspecific divergence of COI-5P sequences calculated from five sampled specimens is in the range of 0.00–0.31%. The pairwise distance between S. trichota and the sympatric S. margopuncta patterna is in the range of 2.66–3.30%.

Distribution. The new species is known from Guinea, Liberia and Ivory Coast.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘τριχωτός’ meaning ‘hairy’ and refers to the broad and dense setose area on the inner surface of the valva at the base of the distal process. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 207–222. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 207, 209, 210, 212–216, and 220–222 in ANHRT (214: ex AKW); 211 in MfN; 217–219 in RMCA.

Figures 415–418. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT (417: ex AKW).

Figures 513–516. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 513 in GMF-B; 514–516 in ANHRT.