Afrasura rivulosa (Walker, 1854) Walker, 1854

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 : 48

Afrasura rivulosa (Walker, 1854) comb. n.

( Figs. 28, 29, 30 , 56 , 70 )

Siccia rivulosa Walker, 1854 , List Het. Br. Mus. II: 540.

Miltochrista rivulosa Walker ; Hampson, 1900, Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M., II: 479. Asura fulvia Hampson, 1900 , Cat. Lep. Phal. B.M., II: 439; syn. n.

Asura obsolescens Hampson, 1914 , Cat. Lep. Phal. B.M., Suppl. I: 767; syn. n.

Type locality. Natal (syntype Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 5645 BMNH, examined).

Distribution. Nigeria, Port Harcourt. Ethiopia, Menegesha-Suba State forest. Belgian Congo [ Democratic Republic of the Congo]. Uganda. Republic of South Africa.

Material examined. Nigeria: 2 3 in author. coll. Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 314 BMNH. Uganda: Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 295 BMNH (holotype of Asura obsolescens Hampson, 1914 syn. n.). Republic of South Africa, Natal: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5644 BMNH (holotype of Asura fulvia Hampson, 1900 syn. n.); Ƥ Arct. g.sl. n. 5645 BMNH (syntype); Durban: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5739 BMNH.

Diagnosis. Forewing pattern with bands fragmented into dots, ground colour light yellow, similar to pallescens . Differentiated in the female genitalia by large bursa with dimple-shaped signum. The distal process of ala valvae and stocky aedeagus in the male genitalia are diagnostic.

Description. Male with modest sized coremata, but the bulb-like tuft of androconial hairs is visible, not exceeding A 8 in length. Valva with distal portion of the supravalva finger-like, distal process of the ala valvae slightly more sclerotized and with a pointed end. Aedeagus strong, stout; vesica with a strong conic cornutus; clusters of small thorns present. Female pheromone dorsal glands longer than posterior apophyses.

Female genitalia with ductus bursae short and membranous with antrum strong, large, sub-cylindrical; cervix moderate size; corpus bursae large, ovoid, covered on internal surface by small thorns, with a dimple shaped signum.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 36. Adults of Afrasura and related genera. Afrasura: 25, A. pallescens. 26 – 27, A. peripherica hilara. 28 – 29, A. rivulosa rivulosa. 30, A. rivulosa ethiopica. 31, A. submarmorata. 32, A. terlineata. Related genera: 33, Asura cervicalis. 34, Asura lydia. 35, " Asura " phaeosticta. 36, " Asura " pectinella.

FIGURES 53 – 64. Genitalia of Afrasura. Males of Afrasura: 53, A. neavi (lateral view). 54, A. numida (A: distal margin of supravalva; B: cornutus). 55, A. peripherica hilara (lateral view). 56, A. rivulosa (A, B: A. r. rivulosa; C: valva of A. r. ethiopica). 57, A. cervicalis. Females of Afrasura: 58, A. indecisa indecisa. 59, as yet unplaced Afrasura species from within the BMNH series of Miltochrista craigii (see text for elaboration). 60, A. discocellularis. 61, A. discreta (right: signum). 62, A. dubitabilis (right: appendix and sclerotizations). 63, A. hieroglyphica. 64, A. ichorina (right: signum).

FIGURES 65 – 76. Genitalia of Afrasura and related genera. Females of Afrasura: 65, A. neavi. 66, A. numida (right: papillae anales and pheromone gland). 67, A. obliterata. 68, A. pallescens. 69, A. peripherica hilara. 70, A. rivulosa rivulosa. 71, A. submarmorata. 72, A. terlineata. 73, Asura cervicalis, female. Related genera: 74, " Asura " phaeosticta, male. 75, " Asura " phaeosticta, female. 76, " Asura " pectinella, male.