Siccia violetteae, 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 : 40

Siccia violetteae sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D707E372-5D0D-44B7-9F16-FEEF3315EBB3

( Figs 81 , 337 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 81 , 337 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 356m | Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki | N.P., Ndoki formation camp | (Secondary forest) | 02°12'51.5''N, 16°23'40.1''E | 23.vi.2022 Actinic Light Trap | Dérozier, V. Leg. | ANHRT:2022.9” / “ANHRTUK | 00275187” / “Slide | AV6862 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.0 mm in the male holotype. Siccia violetteae is largely reminiscent of S. grossagranularis , S. dilova and S. perigraphoides but distinguished by its longer rami of the male antenna. The male genital capsule of the new species is similar to the externally dissimilar S. mago and S. atriguttata but differs in the medially dilated valva, which is shorter than in the congeners (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex), the markedly longer ventral costal lobe protruding beyond the ventral margin of the valva, and the longer and basally narrower process of the cucullus with a thinner tip. The phalli of the three species are very similar. Compared to S. mago and S. atriguttata , the vesica of S. violetteae is shorter and narrower and has a markedly shorter and narrower, globular medial diverticulum bearing two clusters of fine scobination, whereas in the aforementioned congeners, the homologous larger medial diverticulum is broadly conical and bears a broad cluster of spinules. Additionally, the vesica of the new species has a conical distal diverticulum (it is utricular in the congeners) and lacks the smaller medial diverticulum.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in north-eastern Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Ms Violette Dérozier (ANHRT), Odonata specialist, organiser of several ANHRT expeditions to the Republic of the Congo and collector of the holotype. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 80–94. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 80, 81, 84–88, 92–94 in ANHRT; 82 in MWM/ZSM; 83, 89 and 90 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 91 in AKW.

Figures 337–340. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 337 and 340 in ANHRT; 338 in MWM/ZSM; 339 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).