Siccia aristophanousi, 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 : 92-93

Siccia aristophanousi sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2150E474-2E6D-42B2-95F4-D25F905775CD

( Figs 256, 257 , 444 , 526 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 256 , 444 ): male, “ Liberia 530m | Lofa County, Foya Proposed | Protected Area | 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” / “ANHRTUK | 00020131” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV4582 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratype: IVORY COAST: female, 174m, Taï NP, Taï Research Station ( SRET), 05°50'00''N 07°20'32.0''W, 25.iii.–17.iv.2017 , MV light, Aristophanous, A., Aristophanous, M., Geiser, M., Moretto, P. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV3376 ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 5.5 mm in the male holotype and 5.0 mm in the female paratype. Siccia aristophanousi is externally very similar to S. morettoi and differs only in the somewhat smaller size and the slightly more oblique forewing tornus. The male genital capsule of the new species is distinguished from S. morettoi by the slightly shorter valva with a somewhat more medially convex dorsal margin, the shorter and proximally broader cucullus, and the shorter and distally narrower distal saccular process. Additionally, the uncus of S. aristophanousi is somewhat less distally downcurved than in the similar congener. Unfortunately, the phallus of the holotype was damaged during dissection which led to the failure of everting the vesica and therefore it is currently impossible to compare the vesica structures of the two species. However, in the current new species, the cornutus has an elongate and curved base and is distally straight whereas that of S. morettoi has a short and straight base and is somewhat distally curved. As the females of S. morettoi and another similar species, S. brevicornuta are unknown, the female genitalia of S. aristophanousi were compared with those of S. robusta , from which the current new species differs in the markedly narrower and longer antrum, the narrower ductus bursae, and the longer and broader appendix bursae.

Molecular data. The intraspecific divergence of COI-5P sequences calculated from two specimens is 0.15%. The intraspecific divergence between S. aristophanousi and S. morettoi is 3.15%.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from two localities in Liberia and Ivory Coast.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Mr Marios Aristophanous, accomplished Cyprian entomologist, one of the collectors of the type series, who led numerous ANHRT research expeditions to Sub-Saharan Africa. 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.

Figures 526–530. Siccia spp., female genitalia. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 526, 527, 529 and 530 in ANHRT; 528 in AKW.