Siccia kastanota, 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 : 32-33

Siccia kastanota sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:52EBE25A-EE9D-4302-A89B-057052917105

( Figs 60, 61 , 321–323 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 60 , 321 ): male, “ Gabon 430m | Mikongo (Rougier) , Monts | de Cristal (Secondary forest) | 0°29'47''N, 11°10'42''E | 28.vii.–12.viii.2019 LepiLED | Light Trap. Albert, J-L., | Aristophanous, M., | Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., | Moretto, P. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.17” / “ANHRTUK | 00107543” / “Slide | AV6554 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. DRC: 2 males, Congo Dem. Rep. , Bas-Congo, 320 m, Nat. Res. Luki-Mayumbe, 05˚37'S 013˚05'E, 30.v.2007, leg. J. De Prins, unique number: NHMUK010605621, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010315238 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; 2 males, the same locality as previous but 16.v.2007, J. & W. De Prins leg., unique number: NHMUK010605624, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010315241 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; 1 male, Bas-Congo , 250m, Luki-Mayumbe N.R., 5˚27'S 13˚5'E, 20.xi.2008, leg. J. & W. De Prins, unique number: NHMUK010605622, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010315239 (prepared by Volynkin) ( NHMUK) ; 2 males, the same data as previous but 29.xi.2008 ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.5–7.0 mm in males. Siccia kastanota is distinguished from the other species in the group by the intense brown suffusion on the forewing and the dark, blackish-brown hindwing. The male genital capsule of the new species is reminiscent of S. synthetia but differs in the more elongate vinculum, the less medially convex dorsal margin of the valva, the somewhat narrower distal section of the valva, and the markedly broader distal saccular process. The phalli of the two species are similar but in S. kastanota , the dorsal carinal process is somewhat basally broader than in the congener, and the distal diverticulum of the vesica is somewhat more elongate.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known Gabon and western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek ‘καστανωτό’ meaning ‘brownish’ and refers to the brownish colouration of both wings of the new species. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 45–62. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 45–52, 54–60 and 62 in ANHRT; 53 and 61 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 321–324. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 321 and 324 in ANHRT; 322 and 323 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).