Siccia morettoi, 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 : 92

Siccia morettoi sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FB77D49D-D205-4B15-B486-4D27FC9CC41A

( Figs 255 , 443 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 255 , 443 ): male, “ Gabon 430m | Mikongo (Rougier) , Monts | de Cristal (Secondary forest) | 0°29'47''N, 11°10'42''E | 28.vii.–12.viii.2019 House light | Albert, J-L., Aristophanous, M., | Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., | Moretto, P. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.17” / “ANHRTUK | 00160399” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV6709 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes: REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 2 males, 352m, Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Mombongo camp (Moist mixed forest), 02°10'30.7''N, 16°08'37.7''E, 28.vi.2022, MV Light Trap, Dérozier, V. leg., gen. prep. Nos.: AV6882, AV6883 ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Mombongo baï (Marshland), 02°10'14.4''N 16°08'27.9''E, 28.vi.2022, Actinic Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Mékounou, P. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6987 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 5.5–6.0 mm in the males. Siccia morettoi is externally very similar to S. aristophanousi and S. brevicornuta and the detailed comparisons with them are provided below in the diagnoses of those species. The new species is also externally reminiscent of S. ndoki and S. bilobata but differs in the somewhat less elongate forewing and the lack of the proximal spot in the forewing cell. The male genital capsule of S. morettoi is similar to S. wologizia but distinguished by the broader uncus, the narrower valva with a postmedially convex dorsal margin, the more apically rounded ventral costal lobe with a smooth ventral margin (it is covered with spinules in S. wologizia ), the apically pointed cucullus (it is apically rounded in the congener), and the longer and distally dilated distal saccular process. The phallus of the new species is upcurved distally whereas it is more or less straight in the congener. The vesica of S. morettoi is proximally broader than in S. wologizia and has a unilobate subbasal diverticulum bearing a robust thorn-like cornutus (it is bilobate and lacking the cornutus in the congener), broader and unilobate proximal lateral and medial diverticula (in S. wologizia , they are bilobate and trilobate, respectively), and the somewhat longer and distally tapered distal diverticulum (it is utricular in the congener).

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. As only a single specimen was sequenced in this study, the intraspecific variability of COI-5P sequences of this species could not be calculated. The nearest neighbour of S. morettoi is S. aristophanousi at a pairwise distance of 3.15%.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from northern Gabon and north-eastern Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Philippe Moretto, a specialist in Scarabaeinae and one of the collectors of the holotype. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 240–262. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 240 in NHRS (©NHRS, photo by T. Malm); 241 and 243 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 242 in AKW; 244–246 in MWM/ZSM; 247–262 in ANHRT.

Figures 442–445. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.