Siccia wologizia, 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 : 91-92

Siccia wologizia sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1E84BCD5-F379-40E7-838C-FCDB26504698

( Figs 254 , 442 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 254 , 442 ): male, “ Liberia 585m | Lofa County, Wologizi Mts., | Rosewood Camp | 8°06'14.9''N, 9°58'27.3''W | 18.xi–1.xii.2018 Cold Cathode | UV Light Trap (8w) | Sáfián, Sz., Simonics, G. Leg. | ANHRT:2018.43” / “ANHRTUK | 00060207” (DNA barcode iD) / “Slide | AV5132 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 5.5 mm in the male holotype. Siccia wologizia is externally reminiscent of S. exilisioides but distinguished by the somewhat more convex forewing costal margin, and the more yellowish ground colour of both wings. The male genital capsule of the new species is most similar to S. robusta and S. ndoki but distinct in the longer uncus, the proximally narrower valva with an almost straight dorsal margin (it is medially convex in the aforementioned congeners), the longer and basally narrower cucullus, the broader distal membranous lobe of the valva, the considerably longer distal saccular process, and the more prominent, triangular ventral costal lobe bearing denser but shorter spinules on its ventral margin. The phallus of S. wologizia is longer and distally narrower than in S. robusta and S. ndoki . The vesica of the new species is markedly longer than in the similar congeners, and with a bilobate subbasal diverticulum (it is unilobate in the congeners), a bilobate proximal lateral diverticulum lacking the cluster of cornuti, an elongate and trilobate medial diverticulum (it is unilobate and semiglobular in the congeners), and a broader, utricular distal diverticulum (it is distally tapered in the congeners).

The female is unknown.

Molecular data. As the species is known from its holotype only, the intraspecific genetic variability could not be calculated. Siccia wologizia diverges from the similar S. robusta and S. tridens by 6.42% and 6.59%, respectively.

Distribution. The new species is currently known only from its type locality in the north-eastern part of Liberia.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Wologizi Mountains, where the new species was found. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

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.