Siccasura hollandi Volynkin & László, 2021

Volynkin, Anton V. & László, Gyula M., 2021, Siccasura, a new genus for the Afrasura numida (Holland, 1893) species-group, with descriptions of six new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Ecologica Montenegrina 40, pp. 1-25 : 18

Siccasura hollandi Volynkin & László , sp. nov.

( Figs 11–14 , 44, 45 , 59 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 11 , 44 ): 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”, unique number: ANHRTUK 00107437, gen. slide No.: AV6183 ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (54 males, 3 females in total). GABON : 17 males, 1 female, with the same data as in the holotype, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00111221, 00137796, 00137808, 00138966, 00138967, 00138969, 00155624, 00155625, 00155628, 00156184–00156186, 00156188–00156191, 00156192, 00156197, gen. slide Nos.: AV6178, AV6180 (males), AV5946 (female) ; 26 males, same data but collected by actinic light trap, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00110926, 00110927, 00110958, 00138773, 00138781, 00138782, 00138784–00138786, 00138788–00138790, 00139165, 00142024, 00152730, 00152731–00152733, 00158171, 00158173, 00158174, 00162693, 00162715, 00162717, 00162719, 00163155, gen. slide Nos.: AV6172, AV6173, AV6179, AV5938, AV5937 ; 10 males, 1 female, same data but collected by MV light trap, unique numbers: ANHRTUK 00110994, 00165233, 00165234, 00165236, 00165273, 00165502, 00165513, 00165613, 00167802, 00167815, 00168043, 00192293, 00192557, 00192730, gen. slide Nos.: AV6174, AV6175 (males), AV6117 (female) ( ANHRT) . REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: 1 male, D’Ozala National Park , 400–500m, 0°23'N 14°50'E, 29.i.–03.iii.1997, leg. Sinyaev & Murzin, ex coll. A. Schintlmeister, gen. slide No.: MWM 33866 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) . DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: 1 female, [Tshopo Province] 17km S Kisangani, Masako Field Stat. , 00°36'N 25°15'E, 388m, 2–8.ii.2008, leg. Gurkovich & Zolotihin, gen. slide No.: MWM 33868 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7–8 mm in males and 7–8.5 mm in females. The genital capsule of S. hollandi is most similar to that of S. sosta based on the pointed distal section of the valva costa reaching only the base of the cucullus and lacking a dentation. The new species can easily be distinguished from S. sosta as well as from the other species of the S. numida species-group by its symmetrical valvae with the right sacculus lacking a cluster of spines. The ventro-distal process of the valva of the new species is longer than in S. sosta , the juxta is considerably shorter and the intertranstillar membrane is markedly longer and wider. In comparison with S. sosta , the vesica of S. hollandi is distinguished by the more rounded basal plate, the narrower main chamber covered in thinner spinules, the presence of a large lateral diverticulum and the tapering distal diverticulum which is apically wider and more rounded in S. sosta . The female genitalia of the two species are distinguished by the shorter 7 th abdominal segment with shorter lateral pockets, as well as the considerably shallower subostial incision of the 7 th sternite in S. hollandi . The corpus bursae of the new species is considerably narrower and medially constricted with a wide postmedial area lacking scobination, whereas that of S. sosta is sack-like and evenly covered in spinules except for the area at the base of the appendix bursae. Additionally, the appendix bursae of S. hollandi is globular and positioned ventro-laterally while it is conical and situated laterally in S. sosta .

Distribution. The new species is currently known from Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Tshopo Province).

Etymology. The species is named after Dr William Jacob Holland (1848–1932) an outstanding American lepidopterist and paleontologist, a former director of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and author of countless Lepidoptera taxa including the type species of the genus Siccasura .

Figures

Figures 9–16. Siccasura spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 9–14 in ANHRT; 15 and 16 in MFN.

Figures 44–46. Siccasura spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 44 in ANHRT; 45 in MWM/ZSM; 46 in MFN.

Figures 55–60. Siccasura spp.: female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 55, 56, 58 and 59 in ANHRT; 57 in ZSM; 60 in MFN.