Siccia laszlogyulai, 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 : 35-36

Siccia laszlogyulai sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2CA1E57D-4A26-42F7-B941-E38EB6219998

( Figs 65 , 473 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 65 , 473 ): female, “ Zambia 1280m | Kalungu, North of Isoka, | Muchinga Province | 09˚40'52''S, 32˚42'50''E | 30.iv.–1.v.2019 Actinic Light | Trap , Dérozier, V., László, G., | Miles, W. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.12” / “ANHRTUK | 00136155” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV6542 ♀ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT);

Paratype. ZAMBIA: female, 1179m, Bruce-Miller Farm, Choma, 16˚38'12''S, 27˚01'30''E, 28.ii.– 8.iii.2019, MV Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Imakando, M., Miles, W., Mulvaney, L. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6920 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.5 mm in females. Siccia laszlogyulai is distinguished from other species in the genus by its brown forewing with broad and diffuse black markings and brownish-black hindwing. The female genitalia of the new species are reminiscent of S. caffra but differ clearly in the broad caliciform antrum lacking the membranous medial area, and the gelatinous corpus bursae densely covered with tiny spinules whereas it is weakly sclerotized and beas four clusters of short but robust spines in the congener.

The male 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 pairwise distance between S. laszlogyulai and S. caffra is 7.95%.

Distribution. The species is known from two localities in northeastern and southern Zambia.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Dr Gyula M. László, Collections Manager, ANHRT, an expert of the subfamilies Nolinae and Thyatirinae, and the family Geometridae , and one of the collectors of the holotype. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

Figures 63–79. Siccia spp., adults. Depositories of the specimens: 63, 64, 66 and 67 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 65, 71–79 in ANHRT; 68 in HNHM; 69 in MfN; 70 in GMF-B.

Figures 470–473. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 470 and 473 in ANHRT; 471 in NHMUK (©The Trustees of NHMUK); 472 in HNHM.