Siccia makao Volynkin, 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 : 196

Siccia makao Volynkin , sp. nov.

( Figs 7 , 35 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 7 , 35 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 377m | Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park , | Makao camp | 02°35'42.2''N 17°10'08.3''E | 15–21.v.2023, MV light trap | Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., | László, G., Mvouende, S. leg. | ANHRT:2023.6” / “ANHRTUK | 00378102” / “Slide | AV8704 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Note. Belongs to the S. gypsia Hampson, 1914 species-group established by Volynkin (2023).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.5 mm in the male holotype. Siccia makao sp. nov. ( Fig. 7 ) is morphologically similar to S. gypsia ( Fig. 8 ) and S. ankistro Volynkin, 2023 ( Fig. 9 ), from which it is superficially indistinguishable. The male genital capsule of the new species ( Fig. 35 ) is most similar to S. ankistro ( Fig. 36 ) with its editum bearing a large, hook-shaped proximal ampulla and the narrow and short juxta lacking the medio-dorsal ribbon-like processes, but differs in the distally broader valva with a markedly shorter but broader cucullus having a broader ventral and an apically pointed dorsal lobes (the latter is apically rounded in the similar congener), and the longer lobe of the editum with an additional, distal ampulla, which is strongly elongate and slender, saber-shaped, apically pointed, and directed distad. Additionally, unlike in S. ankistro , the juxta of S. makao sp. nov. is more weakly sclerotised and lacks the dorso-lateral processes. Compared to S. gypsia ( Fig. 37 ), the male genital capsule of S. makao sp. nov. has a thinner uncus, a broader valva with a considerably shorter but broader cucullus subdivided into two lobes, a larger lobe of the editum bearing two processes, and a weakly sclerotised juxta lacking the processes. The phallus of the new species is shorter than in both similar congeners. The vesica of S. makao sp. nov. is distinct from S. gypsia in the narrower main chamber bearing fine graniculi (whereas it bears robust spinulose scobination in the congener) and is most similar to S. ankistro , from which the new species differs in the presence of a ventral subbasal diverticulum (absent in S. ankistro ), the smaller granulose lateral diverticulum, and the largest lateral diverticulum having a reduced second lobe, whereas it is bilobate in the similar congener.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Northern Republic of Congo (Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality of the new species, Makao camp in Nouabalé-Ndoki NP. 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 35–37. Male genitalia of Siccia spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in ANHRT.