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)
Author
Volynkin, Anton V.
0000-0001-9447-4925
The African Natural History Research Trust (ANHRT), Street Court Leominster, Kingsland, HR 6 9 QA, UK. E-mail: anton @ anhrt. org. uk; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 9447 - 4925 & Altai State University, Lenina Avenue 61, RF- 656049, Barnaul, Russia.
text
Ecologica Montenegrina
2023
2023-07-07
64
1
184
http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2023.64.1
journal article
10.37828/em.2023.64.1
2336-9744
13248512
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:ED4A9B48-70C2-4B8D-B8F1-513B217A439B
Siccia usambara
sp. n.
https://zoobank.org/
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:
70D225B4-87C8-4D30-98C5-1B0A4E4A1DDD
(
Figs 63, 64
,
325
,
471
)
Type material
.
Holotype
(
Figs 63
,
325
): male, “Mal Inst Amani | P.562 8/63 [
viii.1963
]” / “
Tanzania
: | Amani | Malaria Institute |
G. Pringle
coll. | BM 1966-281” / “
G. Pringle Coll.
| B. M. 1966-281.” / QR-code label with unique number: “NHMUK010918060” / “Slide | NHMUK010315722” [prepared by Volynkin] (
NHMUK
).
Paratype
.
TANZANIA
: female, the same data as holotype but
vii.1964
, unique number: NHMUK010918061, gen. prep. No.: NHMUK010315723 (prepared by Volynkin) (
NHMUK
)
.
Diagnosis
. The forewing length is
8.5 mm
in the male
holotype
and 10.0 mm in the female
paratype
.
Siccia usambara
is externally reminiscent of the sympatric
S. tanzaniae
but with fundamentally different genitalia in both sexes, and differs only in the somewhat larger size. Reliable identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genital capsule of the new species is vaguely similar to
S. caffra
but differs clearly in the narrower valva with a cucullus having a narrower dorsal and a longer, thicker and apically rounded ventral process (it is small and spike-like in
S. caffra
), the apically rounded and dorsally directed distal saccular process (in
S. caffra
, it is apically pointed and ventrally directed), and the larger costal lobe bearing a dense cluster of spinules (it is smooth in
S. caffra
). Additionally, the uncus of
S. usambara
is longer than in
S. caffra
and somewhat tapered subapically whereas it is distally dilated in the congener. The phallus of
S. usambara
is broader and more distally dilated than in
S. caffra
. The vesica of the new species is markedly broader than in the congener, has two broad diverticula dorsally and ventrally, and bears three robust cornuti distally, which have broader connections with the vesica membrane than in
S. caffra
. In the female genitalia of
S. usambara
, the antrum is trapezoidal and evenly sclerotised whereas it is funnel-shaped and medially membranous in
S. caffra
. The corpus bursae of the new species is broader than in
S. caffra
, gelatinous and densely covered with tiny spinules whereas it is weakly sclerotised bearing four separated clusters of short but robust spines posteriorly in the congener.
Molecular data
. Currently unavailable for this species.
Distribution
. The new species is currently known only from its
type
locality in the East
Usambara Mountains
in north-eastern
Tanzania
.
Etymology
. The specific epithet is derived from the
type
locality of the species, East
Usambara Mountains.
The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.