Floridasura, 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 : 34

Genus Floridasura Volynkin, gen. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:269D7507-E9CA-4094-833B-1C55B2E1C204 ( Figs 53, 54 , 131 , 187 )

Type species: Miltochrista tricolor Wileman, 1910 .

Etymology. The genus name is a combination of the Latin word ‘floridus’ meaning ‘colourful’ and the generic name Asura . The genus’ name refers to the colourful forewing of its type species. Gender feminine.

Diagnosis. Small moths with red body and wing ground colour. Forewing pattern diffuse, dark grey in combination with yellow spots. Antennae of both sexes ciliate. The male genitalia of the new genus resemble those of Asura , but can be easily distinguished by the combination of the following features: (1) anellus is heavily sclerotised, with two bunches of spinules dorso-basally and two bunches consisting of two spinules apically (an autapomorphic feature); (2) costa reaches the valva apex and forms two processes: subapical and apical ones separated by a broad but shallow concavity; (3) aedeagus long, narrow, S-like curved, similar to that of Graptasura ; (4) vesica with several short diverticula bearing clusters of weak granulation and small bunches of spinules, similar to that of Graptasura also. The female genitalia differ clearly from those of Asura by the following features: (1) the presence of a well-developed antrum (absent in Asura ); (2) the ductus bursae narrowed anteriorly; (3) the absence of scobination or spinules in corpus bursae (usually present in the nominate subspecies of Asura ), except for a small weakly dentate posterior plate at appendix bursae base; (4) the presence of a row-shaped series of several elongated signa bursae (in Asura there is one signum only or signa are absent); (5) the appendix bursae is membranous (that is more or less sclerotised in the nominate subspecies of Asura and membranous in Eutane ). The antrum structure of Floridasura is unique for the generic complex: it has broad postero-lateral lobes and a deep medial ventral concavity bounded anteriorly by a semilunar dentate plate.

Distribution. The genus is widespread from northeastern India through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and southern Mainland China to Vietnam, Hainan and Taiwan Island.

Number of species. The genus is monobasic.

Figures

Figures 47–63. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: adults. Depositories of specimens: 47–58, 62, 63 – NHMUK; 59 – CAV; 60 – CKC; 61 – ZMA (photo by R. de Vos).

Figures 128–131. Type species of genera, subgenera and their synonyms of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: male genitalia.

Figures 182–189. Type species of genera, subgenera and their synonyms of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: female genitalia.