Siccia dilova, 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 : 37

Siccia dilova sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:932EED0B-F0CB-4820-BF2C-4DC1603A1323

( Figs 74, 75 , 329, 330 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 74 , 329 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 372m | Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , | Mbeli camp | 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E | 14–20.ii.2023, actinic light trap | Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., | Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. | ANHRT:2023.3” / “ANHRTUK | 00312035” / “Slide | AV7168 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 2 males, the same data as holotype ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 356m, Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Ndoki formation camp (Secondary forest), 02°12'51.5''N, 16°23'40.1''E, 23.vi.2022, Actinic Light Trap, Dérozier, V. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6863 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.5–8.0 mm in males. Siccia dilova is externally indistinguishable from S. grossagranularis and S. perigraphoides and the reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genital capsule of the new species is similar to S. grossagranularis but differs in the somewhat medially broader valva with a more convex dorsal margin, and the broader cucullus bearing two elongate and slender lobes: a shorter and basally broader distal one and a longer and slenderer ventral one whereas the cucullus of S. grossagranularis bears only a distal lobe, which is longer and proximally broader than in the new species. The phalli of the two species are similar but that of S. dilova is somewhat narrower distally. The vesica of S. dilova is longer than in S. grossagranularis , has two membranous distal diverticula (whereas in S. grossagranularis , there is a single, markedly broader distal diverticulum bearing a cluster of graniculi laterally), and a narrower subbasal diverticulum bearing finer graniculi.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from north-eastern Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘δίλοβος’ meaning ‘bilobate’ and refers to the bilobate cucullus. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

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 329–332. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.