Siccia buettikeri, Wiltshire, 1988

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 : 25

Siccia buettikeri Wiltshire, 1988

( Figs 35, 36 , 296 , 465 )

Siccia buettikeri Wiltshire, 1988, Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 9: 71, fig. 29 (Type locality: “ Saudi Arabia, Harithi, 21°18'N 40°18'E, 1910 m ”) .

Material examined. SAUDI ARABIA: 1 female, W Saudi Arabia, Asir, Shafa nr. Taif , 2000–2400m, 27– 30.x.1997, A. Legrain leg., gen. prep. No.: ZSM Arct. 2019-139 (prepared by Volynkin) (MWM/ ZSM) .

Note. The male and the female genitalia of the species were illustrated for the first time by Hacker (2016) and Ivinskis & Saldaitis (2008), respectively.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 13.0 mm in males and 12.0– 12.5 mm in females. Siccia buettikeri is greatly different externally from other Afrotropical taxa in the genus due to its large size, pale ochreous forewing colouration, and diffuse, brownish grey forewing pattern. The male genitalia of the species are most similar to those of S. kasanka , the detailed comparison is provided above in the diagnosis of the latter species. The female genitalia of S. buettikeri are distinguished from other species in the group by the short and conical anterior section of the corpus bursae lacking the signa, the lack of clusters of spinulose scobination, and the narrow posterior sclerotised plate of the corpus bursae situated ventrally whereas it is situated laterally in the congeners.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The species is known from Saudi Arabia and peninsular Yemen ( Wiltshire 1988; Ivinskis & Saldaitis 2008; Hacker 2016).

Figures

Figures 33–44. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 33 and 36 in MWM/ZSM; 34 in AKW; 35 after Hacker (2016); 37–39, 43, 44 in ANHRT; 40 and 41 in MfN; 42 after Kühne (2007).

Figures 293–296. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 293 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 294 and 295 in MWM/ZSM; 296 after Hacker (2016).

Figures 464–469. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 464 in AKW; 465 in MWM/ZSM; 466, 468 and 469 in ANHRT; 467 after Kühne (2007).