Afrasura trunca 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 : 388-389

Afrasura trunca Durante sp. n.

( Figs. 12, 13 , 21, 22 , 36 )

Material examined. Holotype. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0°30’ 43’’N, 12°48’13’’E), 500 m, 5/ 10-4-2010, Durante legit, g. prep. 671 MAD. In coll. MSNS. Paratypes. 1 3, same data as the holotype, g. prep. 587 MAD; 4 Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0°30’ 43’’N, 12°48’13’’E), 500 m, 19-2/ 11-3-2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 667, 668, 669, 672 MAD. In coll. MSNS and MAD.

Diagnosis. Externally indistinguishable from Afrasura discocellularis (Strand, 1912) . It differentiates clearly in the genitalia: the short and truncate supravalvar process of the male is unique for the genus, although in somewhat similar to Afrasura hyporhoda ( Hampson, 1900) ; the latter, however, presents two distinct and pronounced terminations, completely absent in trunca sp. n.; in the female the antrum shape is distinctive,as well as the sclerotization at the base of the appendix, and its shape.

Description. Adult. Wingspan: 3 21–22 mm; Ƥ 19–22 mm. Forewing upperside ground colour deep yellow (almost ochreous); pattern violaceous-grey in colour surrounded by reddish. Two marks at base (often jointed together); one streak on the costa, and one dot on the anterior cell vein; two basal bands, the distal of which jointed by a streak to the antemedian band at discocellular level; median and postmedian bands arising from costa close each other and terminating very close just after the middle anal margin; the postmedian band creates a proximal concavity at discal level; a discal dot inside this concavity; submarginal band formed by seven-eight dots; marginal dots absent. Hindwing upperside ground colour straw yellow; termen and anal margin slightly darker. Forewing underside ground colour deep pink except for the outer and inner marginal areas, that are deep yellow; bands very faded except for a short anterior trait. Hindwing underside as in upperside. Fringes of the same colour as the related wing ground colour. The upperside of head and thorax same colour as the forewings ground; the underside and the abdomen same colour as the hindwings; sometimes the abdomen presents a darker pleural fascia. Head with one dot on vertex; labial palpi porrect, not extending beyond frons, same colour as the pattern. Antennae ciliated (male) or filiform (female), deep yellow. Patagia deep yellow. Tegulae deep yellow with two dots, the anterior of which is usually concealed by the patagia. Mesoscutum with two dots, mesoscutellum with one dot. Forelegs hairy, yellow with distal half of tibia grey-black; midlegs yellow with a small grey-black dot externally at the distal tibial endings; hindlegs completely yellow. In all legs the pretarsi are grey-black. Spurs formula 0-2-4.

Male genitalia. A8 membranous, about half shorter than the sixth segment; eighth tergum with two commashaped apodemes at the anterior margin; eighth sternum undifferentiated. Apparently no corematal structures. A7 membranous, a little longer than the sixth segment. Uncus slender, bent caudally, ending in a point; tegumen slender; vinculum with saccus of medium length. Juxta insubstantial, appearing as a small membranous swelling between the basis valvae; fultura superior shield-shaped, like a dorsal sclerotization of the first third of manica penis. Plicae centripetalis of the basis valvae joined to form a W-shaped transtilla. Valva with Afrasura characteristic undulation of the costa; presence of very close long setae on a linear swelling near costa at its proximal half, and a second cluster of close setae just opposite to the first one on the saccular swelling. Distal process of the supravalva with a truncate concave ending; distal process of the ala valvae longer, slender, slightly sclerotized, with a pointed end. Aedoeagus tubular, slightly sclerotized, proximally a little swollen; vesica with a typical big thorn-like cornutus on the main lobe, and sparse tiny spines on the same side of the cornutus.

Female genitalia. A7 tergum and sternum square, very slightly sclerotized, two times longer than the sixth segment. Lamella antevaginalis absent, lamella postvaginalis (LP in fig. 36) double square shield-shaped, membranous, covered by tiny spines. Dorsal pheromone glands two times longer than posterior apophyses. Ostium bursae membranous, not evident; antrum slightly sclerotized, funnel-shaped; ductus bursae membranous and flimsy, almost two times longer than the antrum; a small membranous appendix at the junction to the antrum; a big membranous appendix, arising at the junction to the corpus bursae, L-shaped with the internal corner well sclerotized; ductus seminalis at its caudal extremity; corpus bursae spherical, membranous, internally widespread by tiny spines, with a dimple-shaped rounded signum covered by minuscule spines.

Etymology. From the Latin adjective truncus, meaning “cut off”, in reference to the supravalva in the male genitalia.

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 20 - 33. Male genitalia of Afrasura. Images not all in proportion. 20. Afrasura discocellularis 3: distal end of valva in two specimens (left: g. prep. 586 MAD; right: g. prep. 588 MAD). 21. Afrasura trunca sp. n. 3 g. prep. 587 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. 22. Afrasura trunca sp. n. 3 g. prep. 587 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. 23. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. JX: juxta. 24. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: genitalia, juxta (JX) enlarged. 25. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. 26. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: caudal segments of abdomen with coremata, ventral view. 27. Afrasura duplex sp. n. 3 g. prep. 529 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. 28. Afrasura duplex sp. n. 3 g. prep. 690 MAD: genitalia, lateral view, aedoeagus in situ. JX: juxta. 29. Afrasura duplex sp. n. 3 g. prep. 529 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. Arrow points to the distal lobe of the vesica. 30. Afrasura 3: distal end of valva in camilla sp. n. (left, g. prep. 528 MAD) and duplex sp. n. (right, g. prep. 529 MAD). 31. Afrasura fracta sp. n. 3 g. prep. 692 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. 32. Afrasura fracta sp. n. 3 g. prep. 692 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. 33. Afrasura fracta sp. n. 3 g. prep. 691 MAD: genitalia and caudal segments of abdomen with coremata, ventral view.

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.