Siccasura numida (Holland, 1893)

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 : 8-9

Siccasura numida ( Holland, 1893)

( Figs 1–4 , 33–37 , 55, 56 )

Miltochrista numida Holland, 1893, Psyche , 6 (201): 400 (Type locality: [ Gabon] “Valley of the Ogové River”).

Type material examined. Lectotype (hereby designated) ( Figs 1 , 33 ): male, “ Miltochrista numida , ♂ type Holl., Kangwé, Ogové Riv. W. Africa. A.C. Good” / red label “co Type No. -247- Carn. Mus. Ent.”, gen. slide No.: LG 4861 ( CMNH); paralectotype: female, “ M. numida , ♀ type Holl., Kangwé, Ogové Riv. W. Africa. A.C. Good” / red label “co Type No. -247- Carn. Mus. Ent.” / “197”, gen. slide No.: LG 4862 ( CMNH).

Additional material examined. GABON: 24 males, 6 females, Mikongo (Rougier), Monts de Cristal ( Secondary Forest ), 430m, 0°29'47"N, 11°10'42"E, 28.vii.–12.viii.2019, LepiLED, Actinic and MV Light Trap , Albert, J.-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V ., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT: 2019.17, gen. slide Nos. : AV5941 (male), AV6119 (female) ; 5 males, 2 females, Nyonié ( Lowland Forest ), 10m, 0°2'22"S, 9°20'25"E, 23–28.viii.2019, MV Light Trap , Albert, J.-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V ., Moretto, P. leg., ANHRT: 2019.17, gen. slide Nos. : AV5942 (male), AV6118 (female) ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, Assok , 0°20'43''N 10°10'15''E, 29–30.v.2011, leg. Viktor Sinyaev & Yury Bezverkhov, gen. slide No.: MWM 33870 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) . REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: 2 males, Odzala Nat. Park , 400–500m, 0°23'N 14°50'E, 29.i.–03.iii.1997, leg. Sinyaev & Murzin, gen. slide Nos.: MWM 33862 , MWM 33863 (prepared by Volynkin) ( MWM / ZSM) . CAMEROON: 1 male, 1 female, Johann Albrechtshöhe, L. Conradt S.G., gen. slide Nos.: AV4843 (male), AV4844 (female) ; 1 male, Bibundi , 16–31.x.[19]04, G. Tessmann S.G., gen. slide No.: AV4847 ( MFN) . IVORY COAST: 6 males, Tai NP, Tai Research Station , 174m, 05°49'59.8"N, 07°20'32.0"W, 14–23.XI.2015, Light Trap, Aristophanous, M., Moretto, P., Ruzzier, E. leg., ANHRT : 2017.16, gen. slide Nos. : AV2925, AV3062, AV3069, AV3073, AV3075, AV3078 (males), DNA barcoded specimen id.: ANHRTUK 00073590 ( ANHRT) . LIBERIA: 3 males, 2 females, Nimba county, Nimba Mts., ENNR , Grassfield FDA Field Station , 494m, 7°29'32.45"N, 8°34'54.05"W, 22.xi.2018 Light Trap, Blended Bulb (250W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT : 2018.43, gen. slide Nos. : AV6143, AV5793 (females), DNA barcode id: ANHRT022- 20 /ANHRTUK-00061968; 37 males, 8 females, Lofa County, Foya Proposed Protected Area , 530m, 7°56'36"N, 10°16'36"W, 10–19.xi.2017, MV Light Trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián , Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., ANHRT : 2017.33, gen. slide Nos. : AV5221, AV5219, AV5218, AV5217, AV6137 (males), AV6142, AV6136, AV6162, AV6158, AV6157, AV5213, AV5216, AV5215 (females), DNA barcode ids: ANHRT009-20 / ANHRTUK-00026307, ANHRT010-20 / ANHRTUK-00026485, ANHRT011- 20 /ANHRTUK-00037544; 3 females, Lofa county, Wologizi Mts, Rosewood Camp , 585m, 8°06'14.9"N, 9°58'27.3"W, 18.xi.–1.xii.2018, MV Light Trap, Sáfián, Sz. , Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2018.43, gen. slide Nos.: AV6145, AV6147, AV6148; 7 males, 3 females, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts , base camp forest, 611m, 8°07'17"N, 9°57'42"W, 20.xi.–01.xii.2017, MV Light Trap (125W), Aristophanous, M., Sáfián , Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg. ANHRT : 2017.33, gen. slide No. : AV6153, AV6154, AV6155, (females) ; 1 female, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp 2, 883m, 8°07'20.79''N, 9°56'50.75"W, 22–31.xi.2018, Light Trap (blended bulb 250W), Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT :2018.43, gen. slide No.: AV6151 (female); 1 female, Lofa County, Wologizi Mts, Ridge Camp , 865m, 8°07'10"N, 9°57'11"W, 24–29.xi.2017, Cold Cathode Light Bucket, Aristophanous, M., Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. & Smith, L. leg., ANHRT :2017.33, gen. slide No.: AV 6149 (female); 9 males, 1 female, Krahn-Bassa Reserve, Sinoe County, Juboe River , 7.5km South West Pellokon Town, 140m, 5°39'4"N, 8°39'4"W, 14–21.I.2018, MV and Cold Cathode UV Bucket Light Trap, Geiser, M., Sáfián , Sz., Simonics, G. leg., ANHRT : 2017.33, gen. slide No. : AV5796 (female), DNA barcode id: ANHRT024-20 /ANHRTUK-00101851 ( ANHRT). GUINEA: 1 male, 619km ESE of Conakry, Nzerekore Region, Préfecture de Lola, Ziela env., 540–600m, 7°42'N; 8°21'W, x.2017, local collectors leg., ANHRT :2020.6, unique number: ANHRTUK 00192364 ( ANHRT).

Remarks. Holland (1893) described Miltochrista numida based on both sexes without specifying the number of syntype specimens. As several externally undistinguishable species of Siccasura occur sympatrically in Gabon, the designation of a lectotype of M. numida is necessary in order to stabilize the nomenclature.

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7–8 mm in males and 7–9.5 mm in females. The male genital capsule is easily recognized by the densely spinulose costal margin of the cucullus and the asymmetrical valvae. The left valva is longer and wider than the right one, having a larger ventro-distal process and an extensive cluster of short but robust spines on the sacculus which is either absent or consisting of only a few spines on the right sacculus. The male and female genitalia of S. numida are most similar to those of S. kongo , the distinctive characters are discussed under the diagnosis of the latter species.

Distribution. The species is known from Ghana ( Durante 2009, fig. 54), Cameroon ( Strand 1912a, partim), Gabon ( Holland 1893) and reported here for the first time from the Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Guinea. Due to the lack of any external distinctive characters of the Siccasura species, all previous records of ‘ numida ’ ( Aurivillius 1904; Hampson 1900; Strand 1912a (partim), 1912b (partim); Durante 2009 (partim), 2012) require verification.

Figures

Figures 1–8. Siccasura spp.: adults. Depositories of the specimens: 1 in CMNH; 2 in MWM/ZSM; 3, 4, 7 and 8 in ANHRT; 5 and 6 in ZSM.

Figures 33–35. Siccasura numida: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 33 in CMNH; 34 and 35 in ANHRT.

Figures 36–39. Siccasura spp.: male genitalia. Depositories of the specimens: 36 in ANHRT; 37 and 39 in MWM/ZSM; 38 in ZSM.

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