Siccia semliki, 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 : 97

Siccia semliki sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B3BEE71F-7459-454A-BD8E-9F773AC1B512

( Figs 268 , 452 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 268 , 452 ): male, “ Uganda: | Ruwenzori Range. | Semliki Forest. | 2,850ft. 22.viii.–3.ix.1952. | D.S. Fletcher. ” / “Ruwenzori Exped. | B.M. 1952-566.” / QR-code label with unique number: “NHMUK 010918062” / “Slide | NHMUK010315724” ( NHMUK).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.0 mm in the male holotype. Siccia semliki is externally vaguely reminiscent of S. paucipuncta but differs clearly in its larger size, the broader forewing with a more angular tornus, the longer dash-shaped cellular spots touching each other (they are well-separated in the congener), the larger brown spots on the forewing costal margin, and the intense brown suffusion in the subterminal area of the forewing. The male genital capsule of S. semliki is most similar to S. chimanimani but distinguished by the longer and broader proximal sections of the valvae, the longer and distally thinner left cucullus, the somewhat shorter and less distally downcurved right cucullus, and the distally thicker distal saccular process. The phallus of the new species is straight proximally and medially, and upcurved distally whereas it is gradually upcurved in the congener. The vesica configurations of the two species are similar but that of S. semliki is broader than in S. chimanimani and has a narrower medial diverticulum bearing finer granulation, a broader distal diverticulum, and bears a shorter cornutus. Additionally, the dorsal diverticulum of the new species is basally narrower than in S. chimanimani and has a smaller and conical proximal lobe (it is semiglobular in S. chimanimani ), and a narrower and curved main lobe.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in western Uganda.

Etymology. The specific epithet is homonymic of the type locality, Semliki Forest. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

Figures 263–280. Siccia spp. (263–278) and Palaeosiccia punctata (279, 280), adults. Depositories of the specimens: 263, 264, 267, 269, 273–275, 277, and 280 in ANHRT; 265, 266, 268, 272, and 279 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 270 and 276 in MfN; 271 in NHRS (©NHRS, photo by T. Malm); 278 in AKW.

Figures 450–453. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 450 and 452 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 451 and 453 in ANHRT.