Moorasura, Volynkin & Huang, 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 : 38-39

Genus Moorasura Volynkin & Huang, gen. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C50226BA-D073-49F2-80A2-94D819FA2C59 ( Figs 70, 71 , 140 , 195 )

Type species: Barsine gloriosa Moore, 1878 .

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

Diagnosis. Medium-sized moths with orange colouration and dark brown or blackish pattern similar to that of Ammatho (Ammathella) . Antennae of both sexes are ciliate. The male genitalia of Moorasura resemble those of Ammatho due to the presence of distal costal and distal saccular processes, a distal membranous lobe of valva, and the aedeagus vesica having fields of granulation and clusters of small cornuti or spinules. However, unlike Ammatho , in Moorasura the medial costal process is reduced, very small and situated at the dorsal valva margin, while in Ammatho it is situated more inwardly. The sacculus of Moorasura has a small and weak medial process, similar to that of Ammatho (Conicornuta) . In addition, in Moorasura the tegumen is conspicuously curved ventrad, the feature found in Longarista also. The main autapomorphic feature of the genus is a swollen basal section of uncus (reaching its extreme form in B. inflexa , see Volynkin & Černý (2019b)). The female genitalia of Moorasura resemble those of Ammatho , but in Moorasura the ductus bursae is narrow and the appendix bursae is membranous and directed posteriorly.

Distribution. The genus is widespread in Sundaland and Sulawesi Island.

Number of species. The genus comprises six valid species reviewed by Volynkin & Černý (2019b) as ‘the Barsine inflexa species-group’.

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 140–143. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: male genitalia.

Figures 190–197. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: female genitalia.