Siccia meyi, 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 : 53-54

Siccia meyi sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B164C2AD-2BCF-4216-8E19-4713F69B3D85

( Figs 118, 119 , 365 , 490 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 118 , 365 ): male, blue label “ RSA Western Cape | Jamaka Cederberge | 32°20'S / 19°01'E | Farm 7.–18.IX.2008 | leg. F. Koch ” / “Slide | AV5324 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MfN).

Paratypes. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: 1 male, Western Cape, Cederberg Mts, Algeria , 22–24.XI.2008, LF [light trap], Ebert, Mey & Kühne leg. / Uitkyk Pass, LF Turm, 22.XI.08, gen. prep. No.: AV5331 ( MfN) ; 1 female, Western Cape, Cederbergregion [Cederberg Local Municipality], Uitkyk Pass ,

SW Algeria [National park], 800m, 19.iii.1999, de Freina leg. ( GMF-B); 1 female , Western Cape , Cederbergregion [Cederberg Local Municipality], ca. 30 km ESE Clanwilliam, Algeria National Park, 600– 700m, 23–24.xi.1998, de Freina leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7163 ( GMF-B) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 12.0 mm in males and 11.0–12.0 mm in females. Siccia meyi is externally vaguely similar to S. caffra but differs in the somewhat larger size, the pale brown colouration of both wings (it is pale ochreous in S. caffra ), the continuous antemedial line (it is interrupted into spots in the congener), and the shape of the postmedial line, which is slightly incised inwards near the anal margin whereas it is deeply incised in S. caffra . The male genital capsule of the new species is well distinguished from the other species in the species-group by the narrow distal section of the valva with almost parallel margins, the small ventral lobe of the costa lacking processes, the unilobate cucullus with a short and apically rounded distal lobe, and the anellus bearing two broad lateral clusters of robust spinules. The vesica configuration of S. meyi is reminiscent of S. kota , S. acantodis and S. bicultula but differs in the smaller and semiglobular subbasal diverticulum (it is sack-like in the aforementioned congeners), and the larger dorsaldistal diverticula. The female genitalia of the new species are most reminiscent of S. megista but differ in the shorter apophyses, the more weakly sclerotised lateral subostial lobes, the broader and gelatinous ductus bursae (whereas it has a longitudinal triangular sclerotised plate in the congener), and the considerably shorter, conical appendix bursae (it is tubular and distally tapered in S. megista ). Additionally, the corpus bursae of S. meyi is broader than in S. megista , covered with larger spinules, and bears a markedly shorter signum medially whereas the signum of S. megista is situated anteriorly.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from the Cederberg Mountains, Republic of South Africa.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Dr Wolfram Mey (Berlin, Germany), former curator of the MfN Lepidoptera collection, expert in Afrotropical Microlepidoptera, and one of the collectors of the male paratype. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 112–124. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 112, 113 and 123 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 114–116, 121, 122 and 124 in ANHRT; 117 in AKW; 118 and 120 in MfN; 119 in GMF-B.

Figures 364–368. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 365 and 366 in MfN; 367 in MWM/ZSM; 368 in ANHRT.

Figures 488–491. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 488, 489 and 491 in ANHRT; 490 in GMF-B.