Siccia orbiculata Kühne, 2007

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 : 39

Siccia orbiculata Kühne, 2007

( Figs 69, 70 , 335 , 476 )

Siccia orbiculata Kühne, 2007 , Esperiana Memoir , 3: 377, figs 92, 93, 186, 187 (Type locality: Kenya, Western Prov., Kakamega Forest, near Udo’s campsite, ca. 0°21.3'N 34°51'E).

Type material examined. Paratype ( Fig. 335 ): male, Kenya, Western Prov. , Kakamega Forest N.R., 14.x.2005, Colobus trail, ca. 0˚ 21.3N 34˚51.0'E, local collector leg., gen. prep. No.: AV2894 ( MfN) .

Additional material examined. DRC: 7 males, 1 female, Salonga National Park , 02°45'22.79''S 20°18'55.56''E, Ekongo Camp, January 2017, V.D. Kravchenko & G.C. Müler, gen. prep. Nos.: AV7153 (male), AV7162 (female) ( GMF-B) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.0–8.mm in males and 9.5 mm in the single examined female. Siccia orbiculata is externally similar to S. grossagranularis but differs in the slightly larger size, the more indistinct forewing markings, and the markedly paler hindwing of both sexes. The male genital capsule of the species is clearly different from other similar congeners due to the broad, short and distally tapered valva with a cucullus bearing two slender and downcurved processes parallel to each other. The phallus is similar to S. nepa , but its vesica is somewhat broader and lacks the ventral gelatinous diverticulum. The female genitalia structure of S. orbiculata is reminiscent of S. nepa , and the comparison is provided above in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The species is known from western Kenya (Kakamega County) ( Kühne 2007), and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Figures

Figures 63–79. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 63, 64, 66 and 67 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 65, 71–79 in ANHRT; 68 in HNHM; 69 in MfN; 70 in GMF-B.

Figures 333–336. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 333, 334, 336 in ANHRT; 335 in MfN.

Figures 474–478. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 474, 475, 477 and 478 in ANHRT; 476 in GMF-B.