Wittasura, Volynkin, 2019

Volynkin, Anton V., Huang, Si-Yao & Ivanova, Maria S., 2019, An overview of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae). Part 1. Barsine Walker, 1854 sensu lato, Asura Walker, 1854 and related genera, with descriptions of twenty new genera, ten new subgenera and a check list of taxa of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex, Ecologica Montenegrina 26, pp. 14-92 : 37-38

Genus Wittasura Volynkin, gen. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:864E7B41-ACD4-4298-91CC-5E7AEB61B8C0 ( Figs 66, 67 , 138 , 194 )

Type species: Ammatho lineatus Walker, 1855 .

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the surname Witt and the generic name Asura . The genus is dedicated to the memory of Dr Thomas J. Witt, a famous lepidopterist and a founder of the Museum Witt Munich having one of the largest collections of Heterocera in the world. Gender feminine.

Diagnosis. Small moths with orange colouration and blackish pattern consisting of transverse lines and longitudinal strokes. The male genitalia of Wittasura are very characteristic and can be easily recognised by the complex of the following features: (1) the vinculum is rectangular, weakly sclerotised, with flimsy coremata apically (an autapomorphic feature); (2) a distal membranous lobe of valva is absent; (3) the valva apex is heavily sclerotised, strongly curved dorsally, lobe-like with two thorn-like processes (an autapomorphic feature); (4) the medial costal process is short, thorn-like; (5) the sacculus is narrow but heavily sclerotised, distally fused with the costa, bears a two thorn-like processes a distal and a subdistal ones (an autapomorphic feature); (6) the aedeagus is robust, slightly curved; (7) the aedeagus vesica with several various shaped diverticula ornamented with fields of various sized granulation, and an elongated robust cornutus, which is segmented plate-like. The female genitalia of Wittasura most resemble those of the genus Aberrasine due to the spinulose corpus bursae and the appendix bursae being curved basally, directed anteriorly and having a heavily sclerotised basal section, but in Wittasura the ductus has a well-developed, strongly broadened antrum, which is absent in Aberrasine .

Distribution. The genus is distributed in Sundaland, the Philippines and Sulawesi Island.

Number of species. The genus comprises three valid species and one subspecies.

Figures

Figures 64–81. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: adults. Depositories of specimens: 64, 65 – CAV; 66, 68, 69, 78–81 – NHMUK; 67, 73, 75 – CKC; 70, 74, 76 – MWM/ZSM; 71, 72, 77 – ZMB.

Figures 136–139. Type species of genera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: male genitalia.

Figures 190–197. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: female genitalia.