Barsura, Volynkin, Dubatolov & Kishida, 2017

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 : 29

Genus Barsura Volynkin, Dubatolov & Kishida, 2017

( Figs 33–36 , 121, 122 , 177, 178 )

Barsura Volynkin, Dubatolov & Kishida, 2017, Zootaxa 4299 (1): 55 (Type species: Barsine nubifascia Walker ,

[1865], by original designation).

Diagnosis. Medium-sized moths, the male antennae are bipectinate, the female antennae are ciliate. The male genitalia of Barsura are similar to those of Ammatho , but aedeagus of Barsura bears a well separated, robust and strongly dentate carinal plate (absent in Ammatho ). The female genitalia are characterised by the combination of the following features: (1) the antevaginal plate is present, rugose; (2) the ductus bursae is asymmetric, with more elongated left anterior part; (3) posterior section of corpus bursae with heavily scobinated lateral enlargements, while the anterior section is weakly scobinated and very small (nearly reduced in Umbrasura).

Distribution. The genus is distributed from Himalaya through southern Mainland China and northern Vietnam to Taiwan.

Subgenus Barsura Volynkin, Dubatolov & Kishida, 2017 ( Figs 33, 34 , 121 , 177 )

Diagnosis. The male genitalia of the subgenus are characterised by the large distal costal process, narrow aedeagus and narrow vesica with ventral subbasal diverticulum and clusters of small cornuti and bunches of spinules. In female genitalia lateral enlargements of the posterior section of corpus bursae are heavily sclerotised, pocket-like; anterior, weakly scobinated section of corpus bursae is well-developed.

Distribution. The subgenus is distributed from Himalaya through southern Mainland China to northern Vietnam, but absent in Taiwan.

Number of species. The nominate subgenus comprises 11 species arranged into two species-groups ( Volynkin et al. 2017; Volynkin 2017a; 2018).

Subgenus Tenebrasura Volynkin , subgen. nov. https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:489E372E-2F88-44D3-8C7C-A9A23244F647 ( Figs 35, 36 , 122 , 178 )

Type species: Asura albidorsalis Wileman, 1914 .

Etymology. The subgenus name is a combination of the word ‘tenebrosus’ meaning ‘dark’ in Latin and the generic name Asura . Gender feminine.

Diagnosis. Male genital capsule of the new subgenus differs from that of the nominate subgenus by the costa protruding beyond the distal process to the distal lobe of valva (in Barsura it ends with the process), and the distal costal process being much smaller, thorn-shaped. In female genitalia, the antevaginal plate is present and short, similar to that of the B. simplifascia species-group, and the ductus bursae is broader and more massive than that of Barsura , but asymmetrical also. However, unlike the nominate subgenus, in Tenebrasura the posterior section of corpus bursae is broadened and heavily scobinated, its left lateral enlargement is short but heavily sclerotised; a right enlargement is not developed; the anterior, weakly scobinated section of corpus bursae is broad, but very short, barely noticeable.

Distribution. Endemic of Taiwan Island.

Number of species. The subgenus is monobasic.

Figures

Figures 31–46. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: adults. Depositories of specimens: 31, 32 – NHMUK; 33–46 – MWM/ZSM.

Figures 120–123. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: male genitalia.

Figures 174–181. Type species of genera and subgenera of the Asura / Miltochrista generic complex: female genitalia.