Afrasura hyporhoda ( Hampson, 1900 ) Hampson, 1900

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 : 44

Afrasura hyporhoda ( Hampson, 1900) comb. n.

(Figs. 17, 18, 51)

Asura hyporhoda Hampson, 1900 , Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. II: 453.

Type locality. Sierra Leone (holotype 3 in BMNH, abdomen not dissected).

Distribution. Sierra Leone. Kenya.

Material examined. Sierra Leone: holotype 3 in BMNH. Cameroun: ƤƤ Arct. g.sl. 5754 BMNH, Arct. g.sl. 5886 BMNH. Uganda: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5736 BMNH, Ƥ Arct. g.sl. 5856 BMNH. Kenya: 3 Arct. g.sl. n. 5885 BMNH. Herein, specimens 5736, 5856 and 5886 are classified as hieroglyphica ; 5754 is classified as obliterata .

Diagnosis. The forewing of this species has large bands, with the two basal bands fused together. Because of the variability of the bands, it is not possible to fully differentiate hyporhoda from hieroglyphica . The coremata are, however, large and double-sac shaped in hieroglyphica , unpaired and not deep in hyporhoda . The distal end of ala valvae is C-shaped in hieroglyphica , but long and pointed in hyporhoda .

Description. The coremata ( Fig. 51 C) are on the cephalic margin of A8 sternum, unpaired, not deep and large (about half length of VIII sternum). Genitalia with long and slender uncus, bent caudally, ending in a point; tegumen slender; vinculum with saccus of medium length. Anellus completely sclerotized: ventrally by a hemispheric juxta, laterally by large sclerotizations (as large as long; valvellae), dorsally by a thin fingerlike sclerotization, that protrudes on the manica penis. Plicae centripetalis of basis valvae joined to form transtilla, reinforcing dorsal region of the anellus. Valvar costa with characteristic undulation; distal process of supravalva ventrally membranous and with roundish ending, dorsally slightly sclerotized and pointed; distal process of ala valvae longer, well sclerotized, slender, slightly bent inwards with a pointed end. Aedeagus tubular; coecum with a median concavity; vesica with three clusters of minute thorns, of which two clusters are expanded and the third compact; cornutus strong.

Figures

FIGURES 41 – 52. Genitalia of Afrasura. 41 – 42, A. indecisa indecisa (A: type genitalia; B: coremata). 43, A. indecisa orientalis. 44 – 45, as yet unplaced Afrasura species from within the BMNH series of Miltochrista craigii (see text for elaboration). 46, A. crenulata. 47, A. discocellularis. 48, distal end of valva of A. discocellularis (left) and A. indecisa (right). 49, A. emma (right: coremata). 50, A. hieroglyphica (A, B: type; C, D: Arct. g. sl. 5736 BMNH). 51, A. hyporhoda (A: tegumen-vinculum complex; B: distal end of right valva; C: coremata; D: aedeagus). 52, A. ichorina.