Siccia salonga Volynkin, Saldaitis & Müller, 2025

Volynkin, Anton V., Saldaitis, Aidas & Müller, Günter C., 2025, Eight new species of the genus Siccia Walker from mainland Africa (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 5659 (2), pp. 191-209 : 195

Siccia salonga Volynkin, Saldaitis & Müller , sp. nov.

( Figs 5 , 33 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 5 , 33 ): male, “ DRC /Congo | Salonga National Park | S002°45'22.79''; E020°18'55.56'' | Ekongo Camp January 2017 | VD Kravchenko & GC Müler [leg.]” / “Slide | AV8720 ♂ | A. Volynkin” ( USTTB, ex GMF-B).

Note. Belongs to the S. foya Volynkin, 2023 species-group established by Volynkin (2023).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.5 mm in the male holotype. Siccia salonga sp. nov. ( Fig. 5 ) is morphologically similar to S. foya Volynkin, 2023 ( Fig. 6 ) but differs superficially in the somewhat darker forewing ground colour with larger and more distinct markings, and the markedly darker, blackish-brown hindwing ground colour, which is pale greyish-brown in S. foya . In the male genital capsule, the new species ( Fig. 33 ) is distinguished from S. foya ( Fig. 34 ) by the medially narrower uncus, the broader valva with a considerably narrower lobe of the editum bearing a thumb-shaped medio-ventral process (it is broad, triangular and with a spike-shaped apex in S. foya ), and the shorter cucullus with equally long hook-shaped processes (they are unequal in S. foya ). The phalli of the two species are alike. Compared to S. foya , the vesica of S. salonga sp. nov. has a proximally broader but shorter main chamber with a broader proximal and a shorter distal diverticula.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Central Congo River basin ( DRC) (Salonga National Park).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Salonga National Park, where the new species is found. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Adults of Siccia spp. Depositories of the specimens: 1–4, 6, 7 and 9 in ANHRT; 5 in USTTB (ex GMF-B); 8 in NHMUK.

FIGURES 31–34. Male genitalia of Siccia spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 31, 32 and 34 in ANHRT; 33 in USTTB (ex GMF-B).