Afrasura ichorina (Butler, 1877) Butler, 1877

Durante, Antonio, 2009, Revision of the Afrotropical species of Asura Walker, 1854 (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Lithosiinae), with the description of a new genus, Zootaxa 2280, pp. 27-52 : 45

Afrasura ichorina (Butler, 1877) comb. n.

(Figs. 19, 52, 64)

Sesapa ichorina Butler, 1877, Trans. Ent. Soc. London : 345.

Xanthetis ichorina Butler ; Hampson, 1900, Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. II: 415.

Type locality. Natal (holotype Ƥ in BMNH, lacking head and abdomen, as noted by Hampson (1900: 415).

Material examined. Natal: holotype Ƥ in BMNH. Natal, Durban, 18-5-1907: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5742 BMNH. Natal, Durban, Umhlanga, 13/ 20-8-1949: Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 5757 BMNH.

Diagnosis. Forewing bands large and discernible, unlike hieroglyphica and hyporhoda .

Description. Coremata between A7 and A8 sterna, large, double-sac shaped with two eversible tufts of androconial hairs; the caudal margin of sternum VII presents a double fold of which the inner most deepens cephalad. Sternally the coremata are thickened by a double U-shaped rod-like sclerotization, that seems to take origin from the anterior margin of sternum VIII. From the two ends of this sclerotization, at the border with the left and right pleurae, two thin sclerotized arms arise caudally. They meet forming an arch and merging in a heart-shaped sclerotization of sternum VIII. Tergum VIII presents an H-shaped sclerotization, with two arms in the cephalic direction formed by two small but strong apodemes. Male genitalia typical, with ala valvae becoming thin distally, ending in a well sclerotized strong horn that is slightly bent inward. Supravalva becoming large at the same point where the ala valvae is thin, sub-elliptical, lightly sclerotized. Supravalvar costa with characteristic undulation at midpoint. Aedeagus with a cluster of minute sub-conical thorns at distal end. Vesica with strong cornutus and cluster of small thorns. In the female, sternum VII is frustum of cone-shaped and slightly sclerotized; sternum VIII weak and membranous. Bursa copulatrix presents two large signa with long spines; ductus bursae entirely sclerotized, with thorns.

Remarks. This species, described by Butler in the genus Sesapa Walker, 1854, was subsequently included by Hampson (1900) in the genus Xanthetis Hampson, 1900 with a diagnosis based fundamentally on the wings veins (the forewings have eleven veins, missing vein 9 [Rs2] and lacking the anastomosis between Sc and R, the latter free as Rs1). This venation is confirmed for the examined female, but only partially for the examined male, which has R free but presenting Rs2 (vein 9 of Hampson) and hence 12 veins. Durante (2004) noted that venation is not considered a fundamental character in generic assignments into Lithosiinae.