Asura ” naumanni Kühne, 2005, 1854

Durante, Antonio, 2012, New genera and problematic species in African Lithosiinae (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae, Lymantriidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 22, pp. 1-16 : 11-12

“ Asura ” naumanni Kühne, 2005

Asura naumanni Kühne, 2005: 486-493 .

Diagnosis and description

See the original description ( Kühne 2005).

Material examined

Only known from the original description.

Type locality

RWANDA, Akagera riv., S Kibungo/Ibanda-Makera (holotype Ƌ not examined, in the author’s private collection).

Remarks

“ Asura ” naumanni is a further problematic species. In fact, after the revision of the afrotropical species formerly included in Asura , leading to their inclusion in the genera Tumicla and Afrasura ( Durante 2008, 2009), it is difficult to assign this species to one of these genera or to Asura itself.

The external aspect of this species markedly differs from Afrasura and Tumicla as regards to distribution, shape, origin and development of the wing pattern bands. Male genitalia confirm such differences, mainly the very short uncus and the general shape of the valvae.

Judging from the illustration ( Kühne 2005: 493), the processus distalis plicae seems to be present and the vesica seems to have two clusters of strong thorns without a single big cornutus, as opposed to Afrasura , for which they are distinctive characters.

At the moment this species should be considered as being incertae sedis within the Lithosiinae , pending a comparison with other genera.

Female genitalia are neither described nor figured in the original work.

Distribution

Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya.