Siccia tanzaniae, 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 : 64

Siccia tanzaniae sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FFC1E8A8-EB3F-40F5-AC62-7D75D983243F

( Figs 158–161 , 387, 388 , 499 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 158 , 387 ): male, “ Tanzania | Morogoro 800 m | ca. 25 km SE Mikuma | 07°28'S 037°00'E | 11.VII.2009 | leg. J. & W. De Prins ” / “De Prins Coll. | BMNH (E) | 2014-125” / QRcode label with unique number “NHMUK010605663”, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010315278 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK).

Paratype: TANZANIA: 2 females, Iringa, Udzungwa N.P., 330m, 24 km S of Kilombero , 07°50'S 36°58'E, 16. and 17.v.2010, J. & W. De Prins leg., unique numbers: NHMUK010605664, NHMUK010292544, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010315279 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; 2 males, 1 female, Amani, Malaria Institute , G. Pringle coll., BM 1966-281 / G. Pringle Coll., B.M. 1966-281 / Mal Inst Amani, P. 562, unique numbers: NHMUK010918058, NHMUK010918059, gen. prep. Nos.: NHMUK010315720, NHMUK010315721 (males) (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, Tanganyika sept., Mt. Meru, Momella , 1600–1800 m, 10–19.ii.[19]64, W. Forster leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019- 169 (prepared by Volynkin) ( ZSM) ; 1 female, Arusha Region, Kilimanjaro District, Momella Lodge , Arusha N.P., 6°50.270'S 37°40.500'E, 1620m, 11.iv.2001, A.J. Kingston, gen. prep. No.: AV6750 ( AKW) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.0– 8.5 mm in the males and 8.0– 10.5 mm in females. Siccia tanzaniae externally differs from S. melanospila in the smaller size, the less elongate forewing apex, and the indistinct suffusion between the spots of the postmedial line. The male genital capsule of the new species is reminiscent of S. melanospila but distinguished by the cucullus having a distally narrower dorsal lobe and a markedly narrower ventral lobe with a less upcurved apex. The phallus of S. tanzaniae has a markedly shorter and narrower dorsal carinal plate than that of S. melanospila . In the vesica, the new species differs from S. melanospila in the markedly longer ventral subbasal diverticulum and the main chamber as well. The female genitalia of the two species are very similar but the corpus bursae of S. tanzaniae is broader and bears more robust spinulose scobination than in the congener.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is known from mainland Tanzania.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Tanzania, from where the new species is known. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 149–162. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 149, 150, 152–154, and 162 in ANHRT (154 and 162: ex AKW); 155–159 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 160 in ZSM; 161 in AKW.

Figures 385–389. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 385–387 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 388 in ZSM; 389 in ANHRT (ex AKW).

Figures 496–499. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 496 and 497 in ANHRT; 498 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 499 in AKW.