Argentosine, Volynkin, Huang & Ivanova, 2019

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 : 29-30

Genus Argentosine Volynkin, gen. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0320A5A4-4BCE-4177-9F05-E7E3EF885286 ( Figs 37, 38 , 123 , 179 )

Type species: Miltochrista proleuca Hampson, 1900 .

Etymology. The genus name is a combination of the word ‘argenteus’ meaning ‘silver’ in Latin and the generic name Barsine . The name refers to the silver grey ground colour of the genus’ type species. Gender feminine.

Diagnosis. Externally, the type species of the genus more resembles some members of the subtribe Lithosiina than Nudariina due to its narrow silver grey forewings with reduced pattern, but its male and female genitalia are typical for the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex. The male aedeagus vesica is very similar to that of the genus Ammatho by a number of small but robust cornuti typical for the Barsine genus group, but the genital capsule is similar to that of some Miltochrista species due to the absence of a medial costal process. The combination of such features as the absence of a medial costal process and the presence of small but robust cornuti only is characteristic for the genus Amphisine also (especially, A. asaphes and its allies), but in Argentosine the distal saccular process is well-developed and elongated, the distal lobe of valva is present and large, and the costa is not protruding beyond them, whereas in Amphisine the distal saccular process is reduced to a small protrusion, the distal lobe of valva is absent and the costa forms a strongly elongated narrow distal process directed along the valva axis. The female genitalia of Argentosine are similar to those of Ammatho , but can be easily recognised by the broad area of rugose sclerotisation occupying the posterior end and left side of corpus bursae and the base of appendix bursae. The lateral position of appendix bursae, which is directed laterally, is also characteristic.

Distribution. Nepal and northeastern India.

Number of species. The genus is monobasic.

Figures

Figures 31–46. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: adults. Depositories of specimens: 31, 32 – NHMUK; 33–46 – MWM/ZSM.

Figures 120–123. 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.