Cernysura, Volynkin, 2019

Volynkin, Anton V., Huang, Si-Yao & Ivanova, Maria S., 2019, An overview of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae). Part 1. Barsine Walker, 1854 sensu lato, Asura Walker, 1854 and related genera, with descriptions of twenty new genera, ten new subgenera and a check list of taxa of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex, Ecologica Montenegrina 26, pp. 14-92 : 54-62

Genus Cernysura Volynkin, gen. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:61D91D84-A088-48C3-A2AC-775A66B7FA19 ( Figs 80, 81 , 145 , 200 )

Type species: Miltochrista orbis Černý, 1995 .

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the Dr Karel Černý’s surname, who is an author of its type species, and the generic name Asura . Gender feminine.

Diagnosis. Small moths with reddish or brown forewing colouration and pattern similar to that of Ammatho s. str. In some species ( C. crucipuncta and C. orbis ) a slight sexual dimorphism is expressed as the presence of a white spot in male’s forewing cell, which is as ground colour in females. Antennae of both sexes are ciliate. The male genitalia of the genus Cernysura are characterised by the unique combination of the following features: (1) the juxta is broad, sclerotised, with a short medial crest; (2) the valva is relatively broad, with well-developed robust distal saccular process and distal lobe, similar to Ammatho s. str., but (3) in Cernysura the costa is weakly sclerotised and has no medial and distal processes, like some groups of Miltochrista ; (4) the aedeagus vesica with short but broad diverticula ornamented with robust granulation and bearing several robust thorn-like cornuti the number of which varies within species. The female genitalia are characterised by (1) the presence of a well-developed antrum; (2) the short and weakly sclerotised ductus bursae; (3) the heavily sclerotised narrow posterior section of corpus bursae; (4) the elliptical membranous anterior section of corpus bursae having a signum; and (5) the large, sack-like, sclerotised and granulated appendix bursae, the base of which occupies the significant part of the corpus bursae posterior section’s left side.

Distribution. Endemic of the Philippines ( Černý 1995).

Number of species. The genus comprises four valid species.

Figures

Figures 64–81. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: adults. Depositories of specimens: 64, 65 – CAV; 66, 68, 69, 78–81 – NHMUK; 67, 73, 75 – CKC; 70, 74, 76 – MWM/ZSM; 71, 72, 77 – ZMB.

Figures 144–147. Type species of genera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: male genitalia.

Figures 198–204. Type species of genera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: female genitalia.