Siccia haynesi 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 : 198

Siccia haynesi Volynkin , sp. nov.

( Figs 18, 19 , 42 , 50 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 18 , 42 ): male, “[ Zimbabwe, Harare] Hre 24-2-08 [24.ii.2008] | Siccia spp. | (Bred)” / “ P.G.Haynes | collection” / QR-code label with a unique ID “ NHMUK015057221 ” / “Slide | NHMUK014332582 ” [prepared by A. Volynkin] ( NHMUK).

Paratypes: 1 female, same data as in holotype but 26.ii.2008, unique ID: NHMUK015057222 , gen. slide No.: NHMUK014332583 (prepared by Volynkin) ; 3 males, same data as previous but 31.xii.2007 ; 1 female, same data as previous but G. Parsons [leg.] ; 1 female, same data as previous but e.o. [ex ovo] 1.i.2008, G. Parsons [leg.] (all in NHMUK) .

Note. Belongs to the S. melanospila Hampson, 1911 species-group established by Volynkin (2023).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 8.0– 8.5 mm in males and 9.0– 9.5 in females. The new species ( Figs 18, 19 ) has a very distinctive appearance characterised by the combination of the strongly elongate and narrow forewing and the unusually dark colouration of both wings, which is unique among the Afrotropical taxa of the genus Siccia including the members of the S. melanospila species-group ( Figs 20–22 , also illustrated by Volynkin (2023)). The male genitalia structure of S. haynesi sp. nov. ( Fig. 42 ) is most similar to S. mulanjia Volynkin, 2023 ( Figs 43 ) with its short ventral lobe of the cucullus (which is markedly larger in other species in the group ( Fig. 44 ; also illustrated by Volynkin (2023)) but, unlike the latter, in the new species this lobe is markedly shorter and, additionally, the lobe of the editum is covered with more robust spines, and the dorsal (distal) lobe of the cucullus is longer and more distally dilated. The phalli of the two species are very similar. The vesica of S. haynesi sp. nov. is narrower and somewhat shorter than in S. mulanjia . As the female of S. mulanjia is unknown, the female genitalia of the new species ( Fig. 50 ) were compared with S. melanospila ( Fig. 51 ) instead, and S. haynesi sp. nov. differs from the latter species in the broader, more heavily sclerotised and solid antevaginal plate (it is medially interrupted by a membrane in S. melanospila ), the broader and trapezoidal postvaginal plate (it is subdivided into two narrow and falcate lateral plates in S. melanospila ), and the somewhat broader corpus bursae.

Distribution. Northeastern Zimbabwe.

Etymology. The new species is named after Patrick G. Haynes, researcher of Afrotropical Arctiinae and collector of the majority of the type series. The name is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURES 18–26. Adults of Siccia spp. Depositories of the specimens: 18, 19, 21, 22, 25 and 26 in NHMUK; 20 and 23 in ANHRT; 24 in MfN.

FIGURES 42–44. Male genitalia of Siccia spp. Depositories of the specimens dissected: 42 and 44 in NHMUK; 43 in ANHRT.

FIGURES 48–51. Male (48, 49) and female (50, 51) genitalia of Siccia spp. The specimens dissected are deposited in NHMUK.