Asura Walker, 1854

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 : 32-34

Genus Asura Walker, 1854

Asura Walker, 1854 , List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum 2: 484

(Type species: Asura cervicalis Walker, 1854 , by subsequent designation by Kirby (1892)).

Diagnosis. Medium-sized or small moths with various colouration and pattern. Male antennae bipectinate or ciliate, female antennae ciliate. The male genitalia of the genus are characterised by the combination of the following features: (1) the medial costal process is present; (2) distal membranous lobe of valva is present, well-developed; (3) distal saccular process is present, robust; (4) aedeagus robust, straight, relatively short; (5) aedeagus vesica with several short diverticula bearing clusters of numerous spinules. In the female genitalia, the ductus bursae is dorso-ventrally flattened, sclerotised and not narrowed anteriorly, and antrum is absent.

Distribution. The genus is widespread from mainland Asia to New Guinea and Australia.

Subgenus Asura Walker, 1854 ( Figs 47–50 , 128, 129 , 184, 185 )

Asura Walker, 1854 , List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum 2: 484 (Type species: Asura cervicalis Walker, 1854 , by subsequent designation by Kirby (1892)).

= Stonia Walker, [1865] , List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum 31: 187 (Type species: Stonia bipars Walker, [1865] , by monotypy).

= Gymnasura Hampson, 1900 , Catalogue of Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum 2: 425 (Type species: Calligenia saginaea Turner, 1899 , by original designation), syn. nov.

Remark. Male and female genitalia of the type species of Asura and Gymnasura have no significant differences therefore here we synonymise Gymnasura with Asura . The bilobate distal saccular process of Asura saginaea is also characteristic for some other species (e.g., A. toxodes ), but in A. fulguritis , which is definitely closely related to A. saginaea and A. toxodes , the distal saccular process is unilobate therefore this feature cannot be considered as generic (see that of Barsine also).

Diagnosis. The male genitalia of the nominate subgenus are characterised by the small, weakly setose medial costal process. Costa sometimes have a small round distal process. Anellus of some species bears bunches of spinules. Distal saccular process is bilobate in some species. The female genitalia are characterised by the moderately sclerotised ductus bursae (sometimes with a membranous anterior section) and weakly sclerotised appendix bursae.

Distribution. Most species are distributed in Australia, New Guinea and surrounding islands. Some species are known from northeastern India, Indochina, Sundaland and the Philippines.

Number of species. Here we associate with the subgenus 59 valid species and 2 subspecies, but generic placement of some species is still unclear and needs clarification. Some species formerly associated with Gymnasura are provisionally transferred here to the genus Ovipennis s. str., but their placement needs further clarification also.

Subgenus Eutane Walker, 1854 , stat. nov. ( Figs 51, 52 , 130 , 186 )

Eutane Walker, 1854 , List of the specimens of lepidopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum 2: 531

(Type species: Eutane terminalis Walker, 1854 , by monotypy).

Diagnosis. The male genitalia of the two subgenera are very similar, but in Eutane the valva costa is shorter and the medial costal process is much larger than those of Asura . The main difference between Eutane and Asura is in the female genitalia structure: (1) in Eutane the ductus bursae is rugose anteriorly, whereas in Asura that is evenly sclerotised along its length and not rugose; (2) the corpus bursae of Eutane bears a heavily sclerotised and swollen area laterally, whereas in Asura such a sclerotisation is absent, but spinulose scobination or rows of spinules are usually present; (3) the appendix bursae of Eutane is membranous, whereas in Asura that is weakly sclerotised.

Distribution. Australia and New Guinea.

Number of species. The subgenus currently comprises four valid species. “ Eutane ” nivea and its relatives are clearly not congeneric to the type species of Eutane and erected below to the separated genus Niveutane related to Nanarsine and Amphisine .

Figures

Figures 47–63. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: adults. Depositories of specimens: 47–58, 62, 63 – NHMUK; 59 – CAV; 60 – CKC; 61 – ZMA (photo by R. de Vos).

Figures 128–131. Type species of genera, subgenera and their synonyms of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: male genitalia.

Figures 182–189. Type species of genera, subgenera and their synonyms of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: female genitalia.