Siccia odzala 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 : 196-198

Siccia odzala Volynkin , sp. nov.

( Figs 10, 11 , 38, 39 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 10 , 38 ): male, “ Republic of Congo 540m | Odzala-Kokoua National Park , | Kokoua base | 01°28'39''N, 15°16'42''E | 05–13.ix.2024, MV light trap | Bashford, M., László, G., | Talani, M., Volynkin, A., leg. | ANHRT:2024.15” / “ANHRTUK | 00413155” / “Slide | AV8709 ♂ | A. Volynkin ” ( ANHRT).

Paratypes (7 males in total): 1 male, 338m, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park , Wali forest, 02°13'56.8''N, 16°12'13.9''E, 10–14.v.2023, actinic light trap, Dérozier, V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G., Mvouende, S. leg. ; 4 males, 365m, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park , Mondika camp, 02°21'50.63''N 16°16'25.82''E, 27.iv.–6.v.2023, actinic, LepiLED and MV light traps, Dérozier , V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G., Mvouende, S. leg. ; 1 male, same locality as previous but 07–14.ii.2023, MV light trap, Bakala, N., M., Dérozier , V., Kirk-Spriggs, A., László, G. leg. , gen. slide No. : AV7167; 1 male, 372m, Nouabalé-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. , gen. slide No. : AV7166 (all in ANHRT) .

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

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 9.5–11.0 mm in males. Siccia odzala sp. nov. ( Figs 10, 11 ) is superficially indistinguishable from most externally polymorphic members of the S. cretata and S. nzame Volynkin, 2023 species-groups ( Figs 12–16 , also illustrated by Volynkin 2023) and identification requires the examination of the genitalia structures. The male genitalia of the new species ( Figs 38, 39 ) are morphologically most similar to S. megista Volynkin, 2023 ( Figs 14–16 (adults), 40) but differ in the longer uncus, the longer distal section of the valva, and the lack of the ventral lobe of the cucullus. The unilobate shape of the cucullus of S. odzala sp. nov. is reminiscent of the externally dissimilar S. meyi Volynkin, 2023 ( Figs 17 (adult), 41) endemic to the Western Cape, RSA, but the new species is distinct in its markedly longer uncus and scaphium, the longer valva with a narrower cucullus and a larger, more heavily sclerotised and triangular lobe of the editum (it is apically rounded in S. meyi ), and the lack of spinulose clusters in the anellus. The phallus of S. odzala sp. nov. is similar to S. megista and is somewhat longer and distally upcurved than in S. meyi . The vesica of the new species is shorter than in S. meyi and has fewer and shorter diverticula in the main chamber, and, compared to S. megista , is somewhat shorter and has markedly larger distal and subbasal ventral diverticula.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Northern Republic of Congo (Odzala-Kokoua and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Parks).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Odzala-Kokoua NP. The name is a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 10–17. Adults of Siccia spp. Depositories of the specimens: 10, 11 and 13–16 in ANHRT; 12 and 17 in MfN.

FIGURES 38–41. Male genitalia of Siccia spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 38–40 in ANHRT; 41 in MfN.