Siccia suffusa, Volynkin, 2023

Volynkin, Anton V., 2023, Eight new species of the genus Siccia Walker from the Oriental realm (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 66, pp. 36-57 : 44

Siccia suffusa sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:21C6A81F-B2BA-4E92-8AA3-ED335665AF67

( Figs 17–19 , 43, 44 , 59 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 17 , 43 ): male, “N-Vietnam 1400m | [Hòa Bình Province] Mai-chau, Urwald [jungle] | 40km SE Moc-chau | 20.50’N 104.50’E [20°50'N 104°50'E] | 07.–15.IV.1995 leg. | Sinjaev [recte: Sinyaev] & Einh[eimische]Samml[er] [local collectors] | Museum Witt” / “Slide | ZSM Arct. | 2019-029 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( MWM / ZSM).

Paratypes. VIETNAM: 3 males, the same data as in the holotype, gen. prep. Nos. : ZSM Arct. 2019- 031 ♂, ZSM Arct. 2019 - 221♂, ZSM Arct. 2019 - 223♂ (prepared by Volynkin); 1 female, [Hòa Bình Province] Mai-chau , 25 km S Moc-chau, 1400m, 20°50'N 104°40'E, 14.–18.XI.1994, V. Sinyaev leg. , gen. prep. No. : ZSM Arct. 2019-030 ♀ (prepared by Volynkin); 1 female, 1600m, [border of Lai Châu and Lào Cai Provinces] Mt. Fan-si-pan (north), Cha-pa , primary forest, 22°17'N 103°44'E, 20–30.III.1995, V. Sinyaev & A. Schintlmeister leg. , gen. prep. No. : ZSM Arct. 2019 - 224♀ (prepared by Volynkin ) (all in MWM / ZSM) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 10.5 mm in males and 11.0– 11.5 mm in females. Siccia suffusa sp. n. is morphologically similar to S. pectinata ( Fang, 2000) but differs clearly in the serrulate male antenna (it is shortly bipectinate in S. pectinata ), the darker forewing intensely suffused with greyish-brown scales, the broad and diffuse, greyish-brown forewing markings (they are distinct and black in S. pectinata ), and the darker and more brownish hindwing ground colour. The male genital capsule of the new species is distinguished from S. pectinata by the longer and broader saccus with a broad medial depression, the distally narrower and medially upcurved valva (it is distally straight in the congener), the apically acute cucullus (it is apically rounded in S. pectinata ), and the remarkably shorter distal saccular process. The phallus of S. suffusa sp. n. is considerably broader than in S. pectinata . Unlike in S. pectinata , the vesica of the new species is markedly broader, has substantially larger diverticula, lacks the lateral cluster of spines, and bears a shorter, thorn-shaped cornutus, which is needle-shaped in the similar congener. In the female genitalia, S. suffusa sp. n. differs from S. pectinata in the longer and broader ductus bursae with a well-developed, caliciform antrum (it is absent in the congener), and the shorter and pyriform corpus bursae with a smaller postero-lateral gelatinous protrusion (in S. pectinata , the corpus bursae has an elongate and tubular posterior section). Additionally, the anterior section of the corpus bursae of S. suffusa sp. n. bears two elliptical signa dorsally and ventrally, whereas there is only one tiny anterior signum in S. pectinata .

Distribution. Northern Vietnam (Hòa Bình, Lai Châu and Lào Cai Provinces).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘suffusa’ meaning ‘diffused’ and refers to the diffused pattern of the forewing of the new species. The name is an adjective in apposition to the generic name.

Figures

Figures 17–24. Siccia spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 17–19 in MWM/ZSM; 20 in CKC; 21 in ASV; 22 in SZMN; 23 and 24 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK).

Figures 41–44. Siccia spp.: male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in MWM/ZSM.

Figures 57–60. Siccia spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 57–59 in MWM/ZSM; 60 in SZMN.