Afrasura emma Durante, 2009

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 : 386

Afrasura emma Durante, 2009

( Figs. 9, 10 , 34, 35 )

Afrasura emma Durante, 2009 , Zootaxa, 2280: 43.

Material examined: 14 males, 7 females, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, Ivindo National Park (0°30’ 43’’N, 12°48’13’’E), 500 m, February–April 2010–2011.

Description of female. 2 Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, Ivindo National Park (0°30’ 43’’N, 12°48’13’’E), 500 m, 5/ 10-4-2010, g. prep. 581 and 642 MAD. 5 Ƥ, same locality, 19-2/ 11-3-2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 637 and 639 MAD. In coll. MSNS and MAD. Adult. Wingspan 19–20 mm. The general aspect and colour are very similar to the Gabonese males (see below). Genitalia. In general appearance close to Afrasura dubitabilis Durante, 2009 and Afrasura obliterata (Walker, 1864) , but differing from the first in the absence of the sclerotizations in the corpus bursae at the appendix level (see Durante 2009), and from the latter in the lack of sclerotized bundles of the ductus bursae of obliterata ending anteriorly in a tree-like shape (see Durante 2009). Seventh sternum sclerotized, two times longer than the sixth segment, divided longitudinally into two shields; its caudal margin with a shallow cavity in the middle. Seventh tergum membranous squared. At A7 pleural level two small pouches are present. Dorsal pheromone glands a little longer than posterior apophyses. Ostium bursae not strongly delimited, with roughly a U-shaped notch in the middle both dorsally and ventrally. Antrum sclerotized, cylindrical, as long as wide, internally sprinkled by microscopic spines. The ductus bursae is considered practically absent or reduced just to the membranous junction of the antrum to the cervix bursae. This is sub-conical, membranous, with a finger-like appendix from which the ductus seminalis arises. At the junction between cervix and appendix there is a small heart-shaped sclerotization with small thorns ( Fig. 35 ). Corpus bursae globular, membranous and strong, internally scattered by tiny thorns. Signum dimple-shaped, ovoidal, covered by minuscule spines.

Remarks. This species was described from two males from Nigeria and was differentiated by the closest species mainly by the absence of the large cornutus in the vesica, which is widespread in Afrasura species. The Gabonese males show the same wingspan as the holotype (16 mm) except two are larger (18 mm); they present a general aspect and colour similar to the Nigerian specimens (see original description in Durante 2009), apart from the more intense pattern on the forewings and the presence of a slender, shaded postmedian band on the hindwings ranging from the costa to the M1 vein.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 11. Adults of Afrasura. 3. Afrasura sp. 1, as yet unplaced species from within the BMNH series of Asura craigii. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m., 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit, g. prep. 582 MAD. In coll. MAD. 4. Afrasura sp. 2, as yet unplaced species from within the BMNH series of Asura craigii. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 638 MAD. In coll. MAD. 5. Afrasura indecisa, typical form. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 627 MAD. In coll. MSNS. 6. Afrasura indecisa, black margins form. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 635 MAD. In coll. MAD. 7. Afrasura discocellularis. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m., 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 665 MAD. In coll. MSNS. 8. Afrasura discocellularis. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS. 9. Afrasura emma. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 646 MAD. In coll. MSNS. 10. Afrasura emma. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 637 MAD. In coll. MAD. 11. Afrasura numida. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS.

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.