Siccia tridens, 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 : 89-90

Siccia tridens sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:324126A2-4BD8-42DB-8FCF-832DA4A51631

( Figs 247–250 , 438, 439 , 524 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 247 , 438 ): male, “ Cameroon 900m | North Region, Wack ( La Falaise ) | 07°40'16.5''N, 13°33'18.4''E | 2–21.x.2018 Cold Cathode UV | Light Trap | Safian, Sz., Simonics, G. Leg. | ANHRT:2018.36” / “ANHRTUK | 00070133” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV5305 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. IVORY COAST: 1 male, 2 females, 479m, Denguélé Classified Forest , 09°30'0.6''N, 07°40'51.1''W, 11–18.xi.2019, MV, Actinic & LepiLED Light Traps, Aristophanous, M., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P., Ouattara, S. leg., gen. prep. Nos.: AV6720 (male), AV6721 (female) ( ANHRT) ; TOGO: 1 female, 505m, Fazao-Malfakassa NP, Mare aux crocodíles campsite (Sundanian savannah/dry forest), 8˚44'58.8''N, 0˚48'51.8''E, 26.viii.–7.ix.2018, Actinic Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P., Sanbena, B. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV5050 ( ANHRT) ; NIGERIA: 1 male, Zaria, Samaru, 9.viii.1978, J.C. Deeming, unique number: NHMUK010889618, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010315307 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.0–7.0 mm in males and 6.0– 6.5 mm in females. Siccia tridens is externally reminiscent of S. pallens but distinguished by the smaller size and the less elongate forewing. The male genital capsules of the two species are similar but the uncus of S. tridens bears three spines apically whereas it is somewhat apically dilated bearing three broad triangular lobes in S. pallens . Additionally, the valva of the new species is somewhat proximally broader than in S. tridens , its cucullus is slightly longer, and the ventral margin of the ventral costal lobe bears more robust spinules. The phalli of the two species are alike. The vesica of S. tridens differs from S. pallens in the somewhat broader and more heavily granulose main chamber, the basally broader and somewhat more elongate subbasal diverticulum, and the longer distal diverticulum. Compared to S. pallens , the female genitalia of S. tridens have a markedly broader antrum, a longer and broader corpus bursae bearing stronger spinulose scobination, and a proximally broader appendix bursae.

Molecular data. The intraspecific divergence of COI-5P sequences calculated from two sampled specimens is 0.31%. As the molecular data are currently unavailable for the most similar S. pallens , the COI- 5P sequences of S. tridens were compared with S. robusta , from which the current new species diverges by 3.64%.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from north-western Ivory Coast, Togo, Nigeria and northern Cameroon.

Etymology. In Latin, ‘tridens’ means ‘trident’. The specific epithet refers to the uncus bearing three spines apically. 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.

Figures 521–525. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 521, 524 and 525 in ANHRT; 522 in AKW; 523 in MWM/ZSM.