Siccia ziela, 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 : 48

Siccia ziela sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9A894A7A-DD23-48BA-BBF0-DCAC3DA8E7B7

( Figs 105, 106 , 355, 356 , 485 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 105 , 355 ): male, “ Guinea 540–600m | 619km ESE Conakry, | Nzerekore Region , | Prefecture de Lola, | Ziela env., x.2017 | 7°42'N, 8°21'W | Local collectors Leg. | ANHRT:2020.6” / “ANHRTUK | 00192400” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV6578 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes: GUINEA: 2 males, 1 female, the same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: AV6577 ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, Konakry [Conakry], Macenta Prefecture , Ziama Forest, 550m, Mt. Nimba, April 2016, G.C. Müller, V.D. Kravchenko & G. Petrányi leg. ( GMF-B) ; 1 female, the same locality as previous but November 2016, G. Petrányi, V.D. Kravchenko & G.C. Müller leg., gen. prep. No.: AV7183 ( GMF-B) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.0– 7.5 mm in males and 9.0 mm in the female. Siccia ziela externally differs from the similar S. foya and S. kpelle in the somewhat larger size, the more elongate forewing with larger spots, and the markedly paler hindwing. The male genital capsule of the new species is similar to S. kpelle but distinguished by the somewhat broader and longer valva (in proportion to the tegumen-vinculum complex), the broader subapical dorsal lobe of the costa, the broader ventral lobe of the costa bearing a medial thorn, and the somewhat longer cucullus with a more elongate apex and longer subapical process. The phalli of the two species display no remarkable differences. Compared to S. kpelle , the vesica of S. ziela is markedly longer and broader, has the subbasal diverticulum, and a longer medial-distal diverticulum. In the female genitalia, S. ziela is most similar to S. chilambwe but distinguished by the shorter antrum with narrower lateral sclerotised plates, the considerably shorter and more weakly sclerotised posterior plate of the ductus bursae, the narrower corpus bursae, and the markedly broader appendix bursae. Additionally, the lateral subostial lobes of S. ziela are significantly shorter and narrower than in S. chilambwe .

Molecular data. The intraspecific divergence of COI-5P sequences calculated from two sampled specimens is 0.62%. The genetically next-closest species is S. kpelle differing by 2.99–3.97%.

Distribution. The new species is known only from two localities in the Nzérékoré Region of Guinea.

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of the type locality of the new species, Ziéla village. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 95–111. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 95–105 and 107–111 in ANHRT; 106 in GMF-B.

Figures 353–356. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.

Figures 484–487. Siccia spp., female genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.