Revision of the Afrotropical species of Asura Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Lithosiinae), with the description of a new genus
Author
Durante, Antonio
text
Zootaxa
2009
2280
27
52
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.275270
b318026b-73cf-4c8e-bc1b-ba2efc0f3603
1175-5326
275270
Afrasura rivulosa
(Walker, 1854)
comb. n.
(
Figs. 28, 29, 30
,
56
,
70
)
Siccia rivulosa
Walker, 1854
, List Het. Br. Mus. II: 540.
Miltochrista rivulosa
Walker
;
Hampson, 1900
, Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M., II: 479.
Asura fulvia
Hampson, 1900
, Cat. Lep. Phal. B.M., II: 439;
syn. n.
Asura obsolescens
Hampson, 1914
, Cat. Lep. Phal. B.M., Suppl. I: 767;
syn. n.
Type
locality.
Natal
(
syntype
Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 5645
BMNH
, examined).
Distribution.
Nigeria
, Port Harcourt.
Ethiopia
, Menegesha-Suba State forest.
Belgian Congo
[
Democratic Republic of the Congo
].
Uganda
.
Republic of South Africa
.
Material examined.
Nigeria
: 2
3 in
author. coll.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
: Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 314
BMNH
.
Uganda
: Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 295
BMNH
(
holotype
of
Asura obsolescens
Hampson, 1914
syn. n.
).
Republic of South Africa
,
Natal
: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5644
BMNH
(
holotype
of
Asura fulvia
Hampson, 1900
syn. n.
); Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 5645
BMNH
(
syntype
); Durban: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5739
BMNH
.
Diagnosis.
Forewing pattern with bands fragmented into dots, ground colour light yellow, similar to
pallescens
. Differentiated in the female genitalia by large bursa with dimple-shaped signum. The distal process of ala valvae and stocky aedeagus in the male genitalia are diagnostic.
Description.
Male with modest sized coremata, but the bulb-like tuft of androconial hairs is visible, not exceeding A
8 in
length. Valva with distal portion of the supravalva finger-like, distal process of the ala valvae slightly more sclerotized and with a pointed end. Aedeagus strong, stout; vesica with a strong conic cornutus; clusters of small thorns present. Female pheromone dorsal glands longer than posterior apophyses.
Female genitalia with ductus bursae short and membranous with antrum strong, large, sub-cylindrical; cervix moderate size; corpus bursae large, ovoid, covered on internal surface by small thorns, with a dimple shaped signum.