Siccia perigraphoides, 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 : 37-38

Siccia perigraphoides sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4EF80E34-BE5B-4A2B-A765-C1E5C3996C1C

( Figs 76, 77 , 331, 332 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 76 , 331 ): male, “ Gabon 185m | Dilo ANPN camp, Ivindo | (Secondary forest) | 0˚14'1''S, 12˚17'49''E | 14–19.viii.2019 LepiLED | Light Trap. Albert, J-L., | Aristophanous, M., | Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., | Moretto, P. Leg. | ANHRT:2019.17” / “ANHRTUK | 00163063” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV6543 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes. GABON: 1 male, the same data as holotype ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 430m, Mikongo (Rougier) , Monts de Cristal (Secondary Forest), 0˚29'47''N, 11˚10'42''E, 28.vii.–12.viii.2019, Actinic Light Trap, Albert, J.-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P. leg. ; 1 male, 10m, Nyonié (Lowland forest), 0˚2'22''S, 9˚20'25''E, 23–28.viii.2019, LepiLED Light Trap, Albert, J.-L., Aristophanous, M., Bie Mba, J., Dérozier, V., Moretto, P. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6544 ( ANHRT) ; REPUBLIC OF CONGO: 1 male, 380m, Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Bomassa (Secondary forest), 02°12'25.7''N, 16°11'39.1''E, 18–22.vi.2022, Act. Light Trap, Dérozier, V. leg., gen. prep. No.: AV6864 ( ANHRT) ; 2 males, 349m, Likouala Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Makao forest (Secondary forest), 02°36'42.5''N 17°09'23.8''E, 24–29.ix.2022, Actinic Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 372m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Mbeli camp, 02°14'23.8''N, 16°23'52.1''E, 14–20.ii.2023, MV light trap, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 3 males, 365m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Mondika camp, 02°21'50.63''N 16°16'25.82''E, 07–14.ii.2023, actinic & MV light traps, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 375m, Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Mbeli baï, 02°15'30.4''N 16°24'39.5''E, 15– 19.ii.2023, actinic light trap, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. ( ANHRT) ; 1 male, 352m, Sangha Prov. , Nouabale-Ndoki National Park , Ndoki formation (Secondary forest), 02°12'47.7''N, 16°23'45.8''E, 29.ix.–1.x.2022, Actinic Light Trap, Dérozier, V., Fouka, B., Kirk-Spriggs, A., Takano, H. leg. ( ANHRT) .

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 7.0– 7.5 mm in males. The new species is externally very similar to S. grossagranularis and S. dilova , and reliably distinguishable only by the genitalia structures. The male genitalia of S. perigraphoides are most similar to S. nepa , the detailed comparison is provided below in the diagnosis of the latter species. Compared to S. grossagranularis and S. dilova , the male genital capsule of S. perigraphoides has a medially broader valva, and a lobe-like dilated cucullus with a sinuous dorsal margin and a tiny spike-like tip whereas it is short finger-shaped in S. grossagranularis , whilst in S. dilova , it bears two elongate and slender lobes. The phallus of the new species is somewhat shorter than in S. grossagranularis and S. dilova , and is nearly straight whereas it is evenly medially upcurved in the aforementioned similar congeners. The vesica of S. perigraphoides is considerably shorter and narrower than in S. grossagranularis and S. dilova , has two conical gelatinous lateral diverticula dorsally and ventrally, and a semielliptical distal diverticulum covered with fine graniculi, whereas vesicae of the similar species have broad membranous diverticula bearing clusters of more robust graniculi.

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. The intraspecific divergence of COI-5P sequences calculated from four sampled specimens is in the range of 0.00–0.15%. As the molecular data for the morphologically most similar species, S. nepa are currently unavailable, the COI-5P sequences of S. perigraphoides were compared with S. grossagranularis , from which the new species diverges by 2.83–3.97%.

Distribution. The new species is currently known from Gabon and Republic of the Congo.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the cucullus shape, which is reminiscent of certain species of the Palaearctic Noctuid genus Perigrapha Lederer, 1857 . The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

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 329–332. Siccia spp., male genitalia. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.