Afrasura discocellularis (Strand, 1912)

Durante, Antonio, 2012, The genus Afrasura Durante, 2009 in Gabon, with description of five new species and a new species group (Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini), Zootaxa 3478, pp. 383-398 : 386

Afrasura discocellularis (Strand, 1912)

( Figs. 7, 8 , 20 )

Asura discocellularis Strand, 1912 , Arch. Naturg. LXXVIII 9: 100.

Afrasura discocellularis (Strand, 1912) ; Durante, 2009, Zootaxa, 2280: 32.

Material examined: 16 males, 9 females, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, Ivindo National Park (0°30’ 43’’N, 12°48’13’’E), 500 m, February–April 2010–2011.

Remarks. Hitherto recorded from Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroun ( Durante 2009). New for the Gabon. The Gabonese population of discocellularis is characterized by a more slender and acute termination of the supravalva if compared to other localities ( Ivory Coast, Ghana). In addition, some specimens (e.g., g. prep. 585 and 588 MAD) present a less gradual extension (almost hook-like) of the dorsal margin of the supravalvar termination (see Fig. 20 ); the gradual nature of this character and the lack of other differential characters lead to considering all the examined specimens belongings to the same species. The hook-like variation is similar to that figured by Kühne (2008: 200) and reported as Asura gabunica ( Holland, 1893) . However, as the holotype of gabunica has not been examined by Kühne (2008), nor by Durante (2009), at the moment seems preferable to keep the synonymy of gabunica established by Hampson (1900: 447) with Afrasura obliterata (Walker, 1864) and to consider discocellularis as valid due to the strong differences with obliterata in the female genitalia (male and female genitalia figured in Durante 2009). Wings shape, pattern and colour are not significantly different from the West African populations.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 11. Adults of Afrasura. 3. Afrasura sp. 1, as yet unplaced species from within the BMNH series of Asura craigii. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m., 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit, g. prep. 582 MAD. In coll. MAD. 4. Afrasura sp. 2, as yet unplaced species from within the BMNH series of Asura craigii. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 638 MAD. In coll. MAD. 5. Afrasura indecisa, typical form. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 627 MAD. In coll. MSNS. 6. Afrasura indecisa, black margins form. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 635 MAD. In coll. MAD. 7. Afrasura discocellularis. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m., 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 665 MAD. In coll. MSNS. 8. Afrasura discocellularis. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS. 9. Afrasura emma. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 646 MAD. In coll. MSNS. 10. Afrasura emma. Ƥ, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 19 - 2 / 11 - 3 - 2011, Durante legit, g. prep. 637 MAD. In coll. MAD. 11. Afrasura numida. 3, Gabon, Ipassa-Makokou, (0 ° 30 ’ 43 ’’ N, 12 ° 48 ’ 13 ’’ E), 500 m, 5 / 10 - 4 - 2010, Durante legit. In coll. MSNS.

FIGURES 20 - 33. Male genitalia of Afrasura. Images not all in proportion. 20. Afrasura discocellularis 3: distal end of valva in two specimens (left: g. prep. 586 MAD; right: g. prep. 588 MAD). 21. Afrasura trunca sp. n. 3 g. prep. 587 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. 22. Afrasura trunca sp. n. 3 g. prep. 587 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. 23. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. JX: juxta. 24. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: genitalia, juxta (JX) enlarged. 25. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. 26. Afrasura camilla sp. n. 3 g. prep. 528 MAD: caudal segments of abdomen with coremata, ventral view. 27. Afrasura duplex sp. n. 3 g. prep. 529 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. 28. Afrasura duplex sp. n. 3 g. prep. 690 MAD: genitalia, lateral view, aedoeagus in situ. JX: juxta. 29. Afrasura duplex sp. n. 3 g. prep. 529 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. Arrow points to the distal lobe of the vesica. 30. Afrasura 3: distal end of valva in camilla sp. n. (left, g. prep. 528 MAD) and duplex sp. n. (right, g. prep. 529 MAD). 31. Afrasura fracta sp. n. 3 g. prep. 692 MAD: genitalia, aedoeagus removed. 32. Afrasura fracta sp. n. 3 g. prep. 692 MAD: aedoeagus, coecum cut away. 33. Afrasura fracta sp. n. 3 g. prep. 691 MAD: genitalia and caudal segments of abdomen with coremata, ventral view.