Afrasura numida ( Holland , 1893)

Durante, Antonio, 2009, Revision of the Afrotropical species of Asura Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Lithosiinae), with the description of a new genus, Zootaxa 2280, pp. 27-52 : 46

Afrasura numida ( Holland, 1893) comb. n.

(Figs. 22, 54, 66)

Miltochrista numida Holland, 1893 , Psyche VI: 400.

Asura numida Holland; Hampson, 1900, Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. II: 447.

Type locality. West Africa; Ogové river [ Gabon] ( Hampson (1900) designated a cotype with this locality).

Distribution. Gold Coast [ Ghana] (series in BMNH). Nigeria, Sapele ( Niger river) ( Hampson 1900); Warri (series in the BMNH); Rivers State, Port Harcourt; Bayelsa State, Odi (author coll.). Cameroun (Strand 1912, 1912 b). Ogové R. [ Gabon] ( Hampson, 1900). West Kivu [ Democratic Republic of the Congo] (series in BMNH).

Material examined. Ghana: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5735 BMNH. Nigeria: Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 5750 BMNH; 2 3 e 5 ƤƤ in the author’s collection.

Diagnosis. Unique facies, with forewing ground colour pale pink with two basal bands clearly discernible.

Description. Venation typical for the genus. Male with coremata between A7 and A8 sterna, small sac arising as a cephalic fold of sternum VIII sclerotized anterior margin; androconia absent. VIII tergum large, about half the size of VII tergum, membranous, with median three fifth of anterior margin thickened; two small hook-shaped apodemes pointing cephalad. Uncus typically slender and long, but with a spatulate rather than pointed end. Ala valvae with cluster of thorns halfway along ventral margin, and with distal process bent towards supravalva; small thorns along the upper margin of the distal portion of the supravalva ( Fig. 54 A). Vesica with a thorny cornutus, small compared with the average for the genus ( Fig. 54 B); additionally with some clusters of small thorns. Female A7 sclerotized and smaller than in other species; A8 small, well sclerotized. Female dorsal pheromone glands as long as the posterior apophyses. Ductus bursae short, Sshaped, membranous, with sclerotized antrum; sinus vaginalis with ostium sclerotized and perfectly annular, with lamella antevaginalis not separable from the ostium, and lamella postvaginalis T-shaped and lengthening caudally. Corpus bursae with two dimple-shaped signa, inside scattered with minute thorns. The genitalic peculiarities of numida suggest that it remain included in Afrasura provisionally for the present.

Figures

FIGURES 53 – 64. Genitalia of Afrasura. Males of Afrasura: 53, A. neavi (lateral view). 54, A. numida (A: distal margin of supravalva; B: cornutus). 55, A. peripherica hilara (lateral view). 56, A. rivulosa (A, B: A. r. rivulosa; C: valva of A. r. ethiopica). 57, A. cervicalis. Females of Afrasura: 58, A. indecisa indecisa. 59, as yet unplaced Afrasura species from within the BMNH series of Miltochrista craigii (see text for elaboration). 60, A. discocellularis. 61, A. discreta (right: signum). 62, A. dubitabilis (right: appendix and sclerotizations). 63, A. hieroglyphica. 64, A. ichorina (right: signum).