Barsochrista N. Singh & Kirti, 2016

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 : 25

Genus Barsochrista N. Singh & Kirti, 2016

( Figs 29, 30 , 119 , 175 )

Barsochrista N. Singh & Kirti , in Kirti & N. Singh, 2016, Arctiid Moths of India 2: 2017 (Type species: Lyclene kishidai Kirti & Gill, 2009 , by original designation).

Diagnosis. Medium-sized moths with dark yellow forewing ground colour and pattern consisting of brown spots and wavy and irregularly dentate transverse lines and elliptical discal spot. Hindwings yellow, without pattern. The male genitalia of Barsochrista are similar to those of Ammatho and Ovipennis , but are characterised by such an autapomorphic feature as the voluminous, tubercle-like and heavily sclerotised medial costal process (whereas in Ammatho and Ovipennis that is flattened, lobe-, stick- or thorn-like. The voluminous tubercle-like medial costal process is also present in Esmasura , but it is weakly sclerotised and densely setose. In addition, the aedeagus vesica of Barsochrista is more or less round and bears two bunches of long and robust cornuti, whereas in Ammatho vesica bears broad clusters of small cornuti or granulation; in Ovipennis , bunches of spines are also present, but they are positioned on elongated diverticula. Female genitalia of Barsochrista are most similar to those of Nebulene due to the very short and membranous ductus bursae, but differ by the presence of clusters of numerous robust spinules in the posterior section of corpus bursae (that bears sclerotised dentate plates in Nebulene ) and the large membranous appendix bursae originating from the anterior section of corpus bursae. The latter feature is also known in the genus Asuridia only.

Distribution. Sri Lanka and southern India.

Number of species. The genus comprises two valid species reviewed by Volynkin & Ivanova (2017).

Figures

Figures 17–30. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: adults. Depositories of specimens: 17, 18, 28–30 – NHMUK; 19, 20 – CKC; 21–27 – MWM/ZSM.

Figures 116–119. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: male genitalia.

Figures 174–181. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: female genitalia.