Locastra Walker, 1859

Rong, Hua & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Locastra Walker, 1859 from China, with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae), ZooKeys 724, pp. 101-118 : 102-103

Locastra Walker, 1859

Locastra Walker, 1859. Type species: Locastra maimonalis Walker, 1859.

Taurica Walker, 1866. Type species: Taurica muscosalis Walker, 1866.

Diagnosis.

Locastra can be distinguished externally by the large body and sub-globose scape extension in males; in male genitalia by the basally separated juxta; and in female genitalia by the usually distally S-shaped ductus bursae with longitudinal sclerotized ridges.

Generic characters.

Body large, ranging from 29.0 to 50.0 mm. Head (Figs 1-2): Labial palpus upturned in male, slightly porrect in female, second segment with hair-like scales on inner side. Maxillary palpus short, compressed in both male and female. Antenna with cilia on ventral surface in both male and female; male usually with scape extension extremely short, sub-globose, developed in a few species. Forewing (Figs 4-8) usually with distinct antemedian and postmedian lines, with glandular swelling at costal margin before postmedian line; discal spot absent; discocellular spot small, represented by black tuft; tuft usually placed below middle of lower margin of cell. Wing venation (Fig. 3): Forewing with R3, R4 and R5 stalked, M1 from below upper angle of cell, M2, M3 and CuA1 from lower angle of cell, glandular swelling on costa causing veins around it to curve somewhat; hindwing with Sc+R1 and Rs adjacent, Rs and M1 from upper angle of cell, M2 and M3 from lower angle of cell, CuA1 from near lower angle of cell. Tibiae with long hair-like scales on outer side.

Male genitalia (Figs 9-13). Uncus sub-rectangular or trapezoidal. Gnathos distal process hooked. Valva with costa developed, ventral margin bluntly arched, with curved band from ventrobasal corner to base of juxta; costa and sacculus developed. Vinculum rather long in some species. Juxta separated basally, forming two well-sclerotized and narrowly banded lateral arms, merged medially or distally, usually concave on posterior margin; posterolateral lobes joined at apex; slender arms usually extending from lateral margin to vinculum in a right angle. Phallus with ovate sclerotized plates on ventral and dorsal surfaces before apex, with dense denticles; cornutus present or absent.

Female genitalia (Figs 14-16). Eighth tergite with anterior margin shallowly concave medially; eighth sternite narrow, membranous medially. Apophyses anteriores longer than apophyses posteriores, usually expanded basally. Antrum weakly sclerotized. Ductus bursae usually S shaped distally, with longitudinal sclerotized ridges. Corpus bursae ovate; signa two, ovate, with strongly sclerotized ridge medially.

Key to Locastra species based on external characters and male genitalia