Siccia mulanjia, 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 : 63

Siccia mulanjia sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:69B26973-E0F6-47E9-8AF7-F9D3DD676A46

( Figs 154 , 384 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 154 , 384 ): male, “ Malawi – Southern Region | Mulanje District – 700m | Lujeri Tea Estate – G. house | E035'39.366' S16'01.997' [S 16°01.997' E 035°39.366'] | 9.iv.[20]04 – A.J. Kingston ” / “Slide | AV6588 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT, ex AKW).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.0 mm in the male holotype. Siccia mulanjia externally differs from S. quilimania in the smaller size, the paler, off-white forewing ground colour with slight greyish suffusion (it is pale ochreous in S. quilimania ), the more proximally positioned medial costal spot, and the paler, grey hindwing (it is greyish-brown in the congener). The new species is externally largely reminiscent of S. tanzaniae and reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genital capsule of S. mulanjia is similar to S. quilimania but distinguished by the narrower valva with a shorter ventral costal lobe bearing a shorter dorsal cluster of spines, and a differing cucullus structure. Compared to S. quilimania , the cucullus of S. mulanjia is narrower, its dorsal (distal) process is subapically tapered and apically rounded whereas it is longer and distally spatulate in the congener, the medial process is markedly smaller, denticle-like and directed ventrally (it is triangular and directed inwards in S. quilimania ), and the ventral process is markedly shorter and gradually distally tapered whereas it is postmedially dilated and distally tapered in the similar congener. The phalli of the two species are alike. The vesica of the new species is similar to S. quilimania but has a narrower main chamber.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is known only from it type locality in southern Malawi.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Mulanje Massif, and its southern foothills where the new species was discovered. 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 381–384. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT (384: ex AKW).