Agrotis steniptera (Dognin, 1916)

(Figs 7, 46, 64, 94)

Euxoa steniptera Dognin, 1916: 9; Draudt, 1924: 49. Holotype: ♂ Peru, Cuzco, 3500m, (Fassl) (USNM, Cat. No. 32249, Genitalia slide No. 3976). Examined.

Agrotis steniptera (Dognin): Poole, 1989: 56 (new combination)

Diagnosis. Agrotis steniptera differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) forewing basal dash black, extending from wing base to base of claviform spot; 2) basal, antemedial, and postmedial lines undifferentiated; 3) subterminal line light brown and black edged basally, concave between veins as small arrows, extended basally as a streak between M1–M2 veins; 4) in male genitalia clavus barely differentiated as an area of piliform setae; 5) vesica 2 × as long as aedeagus; and 6) basal spined band present.

Redescription. Male (Fig. 7). Head. Frons central projection small, with raised edge of rough surface, not projected anteriorly into a point. Antenna bipectinate, widest at 1/4 its length, gradually tapering to apex, widest segment 4 × as wide as central shaft, anterior process 1.5 × as wide as posterior process. Thorax. Patagium slightly darker than thorax, with black medial line; tegulum lighter than thorax, with black basal line. Forewing length 10.6–11.4 mm; ground color grayish brown; subcostal band undifferentiated; basal dash black, extending from wing base to base of claviform spot; basal line undifferentiated; antemedial line undifferentiated; claviform spot wide, brown, and black edged; orbicular spot strongly oval, extending toward the reniform spot, never contiguous with the latter, concolorous with ground color, black edged with grayish center; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, distal margin with two streaks extending between M1–M2–M3 veins to subterminal line; discal cell concolorous with ground color, with a black streak of variable width joining both spots; medial line undifferentiated; postmedial line undifferentiated; subterminal line light brown and black edged basally, concave between veins as small arrows, extended basally as a streak between M1–M2 veins, in some specimens joined with reniform streak like one continuous line; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe slightly lighter than forewing ground color. Hind wing diffuse brown; fringe iridescent. Abdomen. Concolorous with forewing ground color. Genitalia (Fig. 46). Clavus barely differentiated as an area of piliform setae. Ampulla 1/4 × as long as valve, basal 2/3 expanded, then narrowed to half its widest diameter; saccus subtriangular. Vesica (Fig. 64) 2 × as long as aedoeagus, consisting of 1 1/2 wide loop, right basal diverticulum absent, basal spined band present. Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Restricted to Southern Peru (Fig. 94).

Material examined. (1 ♂). PERU: Puno. 10km N Lampa, Quebrada Metara, 3900m, ♂ 31-III-3-IV-1987 (O. Karsholt) (ZMUC).