Afrasura aetheria Durante

Durante, Antonio, 2012, The genus Afrasura Durante, 2009 in Gabon, with description of five new species and a new species group (Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 3478, pp. 383-398 : 391-392

Afrasura aetheria Durante sp. n.

( Figs. 18 , 39 )

Material examined. Holotype. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0°30’ 43’’N, 12°48’13’’E), 500 m, 19-2/ 11-3-2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 681 MAD. In coll. MSNS. Paratype. Ƥ, same data as the holotype, g. prep. 680 MAD. In coll. MAD.

Diagnosis. Species with spurs formula 0-2-4 and therefore easily distinguishable from the three species with spurs formula 0-2-2 (i.e., amaniensis , fracta sp. n., and duplex sp. n.). Similar to discreta , submarmorata , and to the white form of camilla sp. n., but differing in having the forewing bands well separated from each other.

Description. Adult. Wingspan: Ƥ 16–17 mm. Forewing upperside ground colour whitish yellow; pattern light hazel. Pattern with the usual sequence of Afrasura : two basal bands, one median, one postmedian, and one dotted submarginal band; one small dot present at the distal end of the cell, although it can be included into a distal expansion of the median band (as in Fig. 18 ). Hindwing upperside ground colour whitish. Forewing underside suffused of light hazel, with distal half of costa, termen and the distal fifth of the anal margin whitish. Hindwing underside as in upperside. Fringe of the four wings whitish. All the body, including palpi, antennae, patagia, tegulae, and legs, same colour as the upperside forewings ground. Patagia small; one fading dot on tegulae; antennae ciliated; forelegs hairy; pretarsi in all legs deep brown; spurs formula 0-2-4.

Male genitalia. Unknown.

Female genitalia. A7 tergum roughly square, about two times longer than the sixth segment; A7 sternum larger than long with two small pouches at its antero-lateral corners. A8 membranous, small (about one fourth shorter than the sixth segment); no lamellae ante- and postvaginalis. Dorsal pheromone glands as long as the posterior apophyses. Ostium bursae membranous, not clearly discernible; antrum one time and half longer than large, slightly narrower at its cephalic ending, internally covered by tiny spines on its caudal two third. Ductus bursae membranous, very short. Corpus bursae scattered by sparse small thorns, approximately spherical with a thickened tissue on the right side; here it presents a conical appendix from where the ductus seminalis arises. Presence of a cervix of a membranous dense and more stainable tissue at the junction to the ductus bursae. Corpus with two very small dimple-shaped signa.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective aetherius, meaning “ethereal”, in reference to the delicate aspect of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 19. Adults of Afrasura. 12. Afrasura trunca sp. n. Paratype, 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit, g. prep. 587 MAD. In coll. MAD. 13. Afrasura trunca sp. n. Paratype, Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 669 MAD. In coll. MSNS. 14. Afrasura camilla sp. n. Paratype, 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS. 15. Afrasura camilla sp. n. Paratype, Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS. 16. Afrasura duplex sp. n. Paratype, 3, yellow form, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS. 17. Afrasura duplex sp. n. Paratype, Ƥ, white form, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS. 18. Afrasura aetheria sp. n. Paratype, Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 680 MAD. In coll. MAD. 19. Afrasura fracta sp. n. Paratype, 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 692 MAD. In coll. MAD.

FIGURES 34 – 39. Female genitalia of Afrasura. Images not all in proportion. 34. Afrasura emma Ƥ g. prep. 639 MAD: genitalia, bursa copulatrix in dorsal view. AP: appendix; CX: cervix; SI: signum. 35. Afrasura emma Ƥ g. prep. 639 MAD: antrum and cervix bursae enlarged. AN: antrum; AP: appendix; CX: cervix. 36. Afrasura trunca sp. n. Ƥ g. prep. 668 MAD: genitalia, bursa copulatrix in dorsal view. AN: antrum; AP: appendix; DB: ductus bursae; LP: lamella postvaginalis; SI: signum. 37. Afrasura camilla sp. n. Ƥ g. prep. 530 MAD: genitalia, in dorsal view. AN: antrum; AP: appendix; DB: ductus bursae. 38. Afrasura duplex sp. n. Ƥ g. prep. 689 MAD: genitalia, bursa copulatrix in dorsal view. AN: antrum; AP: appendix; CX: cervix. 39. Afrasura aetheria sp. n. Ƥ g. prep. 680 MAD: genitalia, bursa copulatrix in dorsal view. AP: appendix; CX: cervix.