Asuroides fasciata Durante

Durante, Antonio, 2008, Asuroides, a new genus of lithosiine moths (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae, Lithosiinae), Zootaxa 1713, pp. 53-68 : 61

Asuroides fasciata Durante , new species

(Figs. 8, 26)

Material analyzed: Ψ holotype, Fort Crampel, Congo Française [ Republic of the Congo], no date, g. sl. Arct. 5872 BMNH, in BMNH; Ψ paratype, same data as holotype, in BMNH.

Forewing: wingspan 26–27 mm; upperside ground color straw-yellow; pattern grey; basal area with one dot at subcostal vein and a longitudinal patch posterior to it, patch varyingly linked to basal band; basal band forms distal convexity at nearly right angle at cell level, whereas the bend at anal vein is nearly imperceptible; median band not starting with initial strip in distal direction, but arising at about half costa toward the basal band without touching it; at cell level forming an obtuse angle with distal concavity, and continuing to postmedian band without touching it, thereafter turning toward inner margin with a curved strip with distal concavity; postmedian and submarginal bands arising from costa separately, meeting at cell level with V-shaped confluence, contuining coupled as question-mark-shaped curvature, forming large fascia (unique in the genus); distal edge of fascia extends two finger-like extensions at M1 and M3 level; C-shaped patch with distal concavity at distal end of cell; costa yellow, with grey dusting in correspondence with basal area and with bands; underside like upperside, but basal and median bands nearly wanting; C-shaped discal patch absent; fringes yellow (holotype) to grey (paratype).

Hindwing: upperside lighter yellow than forewings, with large marginal grey band; margin with thin yellow colouring that becomes larger at apex; costa yellow from base to apex, where it becomes grey; underside like upperside; fringes grey along termen, yellow at tornus and along anal margin.

Body: head gold yellow with grey dot on vertex; antennae filiform yellow; labial palpi yellow, porrect, not extending beyond frons; patagia and tegulae gold yellow; two grey dots on tegulae; notum gold yellow anteriorly, lighter posteriorly; abdomen color same as forewing ground color; legs yellow with distal end of femur and distal and proximal ends of tibia grey; foreleg tibia with grey dusting, notably on anterior and internal side; tibial spurs 0-2-2; abdomen VII sternum long, two thirds of VI; VII tergum trapezoidal, longer than two times VI; small bag-shaped pleural invagination between VI and VII abdominal segments; VIII abdominal segment less than half as long as VI, membranous, but rigid; lamella postvaginalis membranous, stiff, semicircular; dorsal pheromone gland bilobate, with short lobes, as long or slightly longer than posterior apophyses; dorsolaterally there are small bag-shaped formations of the membrane between A8 and A9, probably with pherormonal function.

Genitalia: Ψ: ostium funnel-shaped, large, about half size of VIII sternum; lamella postvaginalis semicircular; ductus bursae well sclerotized, L-shaped, covering length of VII sternum; cervix bursae solid, twice as wide as long, meeting ductus bursae dorsally; ductus seminalis arising on right, corpus bursae arises on left (cephalic direction); corpus bursae sub-spherical, membranous, scarcely solid, without signa.

Etymology: name for the large marginal fascia on the hindwings.

Remarks: a uniquely patterned Asuroides , with large fasciae on both wings, as well as distinctive genitalia. The male is unknown.