Afrasura discocellularis Strand 1912

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.