Siccia taita 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 : 207

Siccia taita Volynkin , sp. nov.

( Figs 25 , 48 )

Type material. Holotype ( Figs 25 , 48 ): male, “ Coll. Mus. Tervuren | Kenya Taita Hills 1600m | Ngangao , Ocimum suave | 03°22'S 38°21'E (l8) | 09.IV.2001 | leg. J. & W. De Prins ” / “de Prins | BMNH Ent. | 2014-125” / QR-code label with unique ID: “ NHMUK010292553 ” / “Slide | NHMUK014331260 ” [prepared by A. Volynkin] ( NHMUK).

Paratype: 1 male, same data as in holotype ( NHMUK) .

Note. Belongs to the S. adiaphora Kiriakoff, 1958 species-group established by Volynkin (2023).

Diagnosis. The forewing length is 6.5 mm in males. Siccia taita sp. nov. ( Fig. 25 ) differs from the only known similar species, S. adiaphora ( Fig. 26 ) in the markedly smaller size and the paler colouration of both wings. In the male genital capsule, the new species ( Fig. 48 ) is distinguished from S. adiaphora ( Fig. 49 ) by the tegumen lacking the triangular posterior processes, the editum bearing only one blade-like ampulla (vs. two ampullas in S. adiaphora ), the longer and broader cucullus lacking the ventral lobe, the distally tapered sacculus (it is distally trapezoidal in the similar congener), and the distally tapered valvula, which is distally rounded in S. adiaphora . The phallus of S. taita sp. nov. is slenderer than in S. adiaphora and has a somewhat more elongate and S-shaped carina. The vesicae of the two species could not be studied due to the extremely small sizes of the phalli.

The female is unknown.

Distribution. Southeastern Kenya.

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

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