Siccia kundalila, 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 : 84-85

Siccia kundalila sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9996DBCF-8D14-4284-A6EA-D001A162F8BD

( Figs 227, 228 , 429 , 519 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 227 , 429 ): male, “ Zambia: Central Province, | 13Km S. of Kanona , | Kundalila Falls. 1498 m. | S:13°09.268'', E:30°42.123'' | 1.iii.2019 | AJ Kingston & P Schmit” / “Slide | AV6641 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT, ex AKW).

Paratypes. ZAMBIA: 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype, gen. prep. No.: AV6642 (female) ( AKW) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 9.0– 9.5 mm in males and 10.5 mm in the female. Siccia kundalila is externally reminiscent of S. bicolorata and S. mukuyu but distinguished by the somewhat paler forewing ground colour and the pale ochreous-yellow hindwing, which is uniform dark greyish-brown with deep yellow cilia in the congener. The male genital capsule of the new species is most similar to that of S. bicolorata but differs from it in the more robust and longer penicular setae, the somewhat less elongate valva, the more dorsally prominent cucullus bearing a broader cluster of spinules, the longer distal membranous lobe of the valva, and the narrower saccular process. The phallus of S. kundalila bears a longer carinal cluster of spinules than in S. bicolorata . The vesica of the new species is markedly narrower than in S. bicolorata , having a markedly longer and broader subbasal diverticulum, a narrower and semiglobular distal diverticulum (it is semielliptical in the congener), and bearing a somewhat shorter but thicker terminal cornutus. In the female genitalia of S. kundalila , the lateral rugose lobes of the postvaginal plate are narrower than in S. bicolorata , and the lateral lobes of the antevaginal plate are elliptical and smooth (they are Sshaped and strongly rugose in the congener). Additionally, compared to S. bicolorata , the corpus bursae of the new species has more symmetrical postero-lateral clusters of spines whereas in S. bicolorata , the right cluster is markedly longer than the left one. The detailed comparison with S. lydiae is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Molecular data. Currently unavailable for this species.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in Central Province of Zambia.

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

Figures

Figures 223–239. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 223 in MHNG (photo by B. Landry); 224, 225, 227, 229–231, and 238, 239 in ANHRT (227: ex AKW); 226 and 233 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 228, 236 and 237 in ALW; 232 in MWM/ZSM; 234 and 235 in MfN.

Figures 427–430. Siccia spp., male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 427, 429 and 430 in ANHRT (429: ex AKW); 428 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 517–520. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 517, 518 and 520 in ANHRT; 519 in AKW.