Agrotis malefida Guenée, 1852

Blas, Germán San, 2014, Agrotis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a systematic analysis of South American species, Zootaxa 3771 (1), pp. 1-64 : 33-34

Agrotis malefida Guenée, 1852

( Figs 32, 33 , 58 , 76 , 89 , 106 )

Agrotis malefida Guenée , in Boisduval & Guenée, 1852: 267; Walker, (1857) 1856: 328 (diagnosis); Boisduval, 1869: 89 (collected at California, USA); Lintner, 1873: 200 (checklist); Harvey, 1875: 5 (collected at Alabama, USA); Snow, 1883: 37 (collected at Nuevo México, USA); Edwards, 1889: 85 (bibliographic catalog); Druce, 1881 –1900: 282 (distribution and color pattern variation); Forbes, 1933: 20, fig. 17 (relation with other South American Agrotis ); Chiesa Molinari, 1942: 571 (economic importance); Forbes, 1954: 35, 48–49 (redescription of adult and larvae); Crumb, 1956: 86 (larval diagnosis, distribution, and identification key); Godfrey, 1987: 567 (preimaginal stages); Poole, 1989: 51 (world noctuid checklist); Lafontaine, 2004: 248 –249, pl. L, figs 33–35, pl. 34, fig. 4, pl. 50, fig. 2, fig. 134 (larval and adult diagnosis); Specht et al., 2004: 12 (collected at Brazil); Specht et al., 2005: 132, 136 (collected at Brazil); Pogue, 2006: 21 (diagnosis, flight period, hosts); San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013: 1157, figs 3E–3H (differences with A. ipsilon and A. robusta ). Lectotype: ♀ North America (Boisduval) (BMNH). Not examined.

Feltia malefida (Guenée) : Smith, 1890: 122 –123 (diagnosis); Verrill, 1902: 769 (collected at Bermuda Islands); Hampson, 1903: 353 –354, pl. 68, fig. 15 (adult and larval redescription and distribution); Draudt, 1924: 55 (diagnosis).

Agrotis malefida (Treitschke) authorship error: Hayward, 1969: 42 (hosts).

Feltia malefida variety patagiata Aurivillius, Prout, and Meyrick, 1922: 256. According to 45.6.4 ICZN article: “it is subspecific if first published before 1961 and its author expressly used one of the terms "variety" or "form" (including use of the terms "var.,” "forma,” "v." and "f."), unless its author also expressly gave it infrasubspecific rank, or the content of the work unambiguously reveals that the name was proposed for an infrasubspecific entity, in which case it is infrasubspecific.” As mentioned before, and because there is no evidence that Aurivillius, Prout, and Meyrick (1922) have referred to this taxon as lower in rank than subspecies, I consider it a subspecies and subjective junior synonym of Agrotis malefida . Type /s: ♀ [ Chile] Robinson Crusoe Island. Not examined. New synonym.

Agrotis inspinosa Guenée , in Boisduval & Guenée, 1852: 269; Hampson, 1903: 353 –354 (= Feltia malefida (Guenée)) . Holotype: ♀ Brasil, Nouvelle-Fribourg (Guenée) (BMNH). Image examined.

Agrotis consueta Walker, (1857) 1856: 334 ; Butler, 1882: 126 (= A. hostilis Walker in part and = A. bipars Walker in part); Butler, 1889: 378 (= Agrotis bipars ); Druce, 1881 –1900: 282 (= Agrotis malefida Guenée ). Lectotype: ♂ Venezuela (Dyson) (BMNH), designated by Lafontaine (2004). Image examined.

Lycophotia achromatica Hampson, 1903: 518 , pl. 73 fig. 32; Draudt, 1924: 67, pl. 11 row b. Syntypes: 3 ♂ Brazil, Bahia (Lacerda, 0. Thomas) (BMNH). Image examined. New synonym.

Agrotis achromatica (Hampson) : Poole, 1989: 43 (new combination).

Agrotis psammophila Köhler, 1961: 69 ; Hayward, 1969: 42 (hosts); Poole, 1989: 54 (world noctuid checklist); Pastrana, 2004: 157 (hosts). Holotype: ♂ [ Argentina ], [Mendoza], [San Rafael], Río Atuel 20-III-1961 (IMLA). Examined. Paratype: ♂ [ Argentina ], [Mendoza], [San Rafael], Río Atuel 20-III-1961 (IMLA). Examined. New synonym.

Scotia (Feltia) canietensis Köhler, 1966: 100 , fig. 2. Holotype: ♂ [ Argentina ], [Tucumán], Las Cejas (Köhler) (IMLA). Examined. Alotype: ♀ [ Argentina ], [Tucumán], Río Nío, 1000m, 27-IX-1965 (IMLA). Examined. Paratypes: 3 ♂ [ Argentina ], Córdoba, Río Seco 30-XI (Köhler) (IMLA); ♀ [ Argentina ], Salta, Rosario de la Frontera, Rearte Norte 27-II- 1956 (Pierrotti) (IMLA); ♂ ♀ [ Argentina ], [Tucumán], Río Nío, 1000m, 27-IX (IMLA); ♂ ♀ [ Argentina ], [Tucumán], ♀ Río Chuscha, 1000m, 28-IX-1965 (IMLA); 2 ♂ [ Argentina ], Tucumán 22-IV (IMLA); 4 ♀ [ Argentina ], [Tucumán], Las Cejas (Köhler) (IMLA), ♂ 20-V (Köhler) (IMLA); 2 ♂ [ Argentina ], [Tucumán], Río Nío, 1000m, 12-V (IMLA). Examined. New synonym. Note: Köhler cites locality information as follows: “Holo, Alo y Paratipos: En la colección del autor. [Holotype, allotype, and paratypes: at author’s collection];” “Procedencia [Habitat]: Cañete, 800m Tucumán, 22-IV- 1964, Köhler; Río Nío, 1.000m, Tucumán, 12-V-1965, Köhler; Taficillo, 1.000m, Tucumán, 27-IX-1965, Köhler; Las Cejas, 800m, 20-V-1965, Köhler; Río Chuscha, 1.000m, Tucumán, Köhler; Río Seco, 900m, Córdoba, 20-XI-1962, Köhler; Rosario de la Frontera, 1.200m, Salta, 27-II-1956, Perrotti.” Types underlined correspond to specimens for which locality data do not agree entirely with any of those given by Köhler. Cited materials correspond to specimens at IMLA, no material was found at ZSM. Despite cited material does not fully agree with the data given in the description, these specimens are maintained as types because part of the information does agree and they are conspecific with Scotia (Feltia) canietensis .

Agrotis canietensis (Köhler) : Poole, 1989: 45 (new combination); Pastrana, 2004: 15 (hosts).

Diagnosis. Agrotis malefida differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) patagium basal half dark brownish gray and distal half dark gray; 2) forewing length in males 19.5– 20.9 mm, in females 18.8–21.1 mm; 3) ground color whitish to dark grayish brown; 4) subterminal line light brown; 5) in male genitalia vesica 10 × as long as aedeagus; and 6) in female genitalia appendix bursae 14 × as long as corpus bursae.

Redescription. Male ( Fig. 32 ). Head. Frons central projection small, with raised edge of rough surface, projected anteriorly into a point, some specimens with no projection. Antenna biserrate, widest at 1/5 its length, gradually tapering to apex, widest segment 2 × as wide as central shaft, anterior process 2 × as wide as posterior process. Thorax. Patagium with whitish postbasal line and blackish medial line, basal half dark brownish gray and distal half dark gray; tegulum light gray, with blackish basal and marginal lines, later widened anteriorly. Forewing length 19.5–20.9 mm; ground color whitish to dark grayish brown; subcostal band dark grayish brown; basal area darker than ground color; basal line black, double; antemedial line black, double, convex between veins, extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin, in some specimens it coming near to medial line; claviform spot black; orbicular spot strongly oval, extending toward reniform spot, contiguous in some specimens, concolorous with ground color, black edged with grayish center; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, distal margin with no streak; discal cell concolorous with ground color, with black streak of variable width joining both spots; medial line faint, as a dark thick waved band; postmedial line black, double, concave between veins; subterminal line light brown, concave between veins, extending basally as small light arrows, longest ones between M1–M2–M3 veins, black edged basally, arrows never contiguous with postmedial line; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe concolorous with ground color with dark transversal lines at apex of veins. Hind wing iridescent, in dark specimens wing margins diffuse brown; fringe iridescent. Abdomen. Light grayish brown, with dark dorsal line. Genitalia ( Fig. 58 ). Uncus sinuous. Clavus cylindrical, short, 2 × as long as wide. Ampulla 1/5 × as long as valve, basal 1/3 expanded, then narrowed to half its widest diameter; saccus hemispherical. Vesica ( Fig. 76 ) 10 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of six wide loops, right basal diverticulum subtriangular, vesica slightly swollen on apical 1/5. Female ( Fig. 33 ). Differences from male. Forewing length: 18.8–21.1 mm; antenna filiform; ground color dark grayish; hind wing with dark brown veins, anal and apical margins diffuse dark brown. Genitalia ( Fig. 89 ). Posterior apophysis 2 × as long as anterior apophysis; ductus bursae 2 × as long as anterior apophysis; corpus bursae 7 × as long as anterior apophysis, signum absent, apex subtriangular; appendix bursae 14 × as long as corpus bursae, consisting of six wide loops, apex globose; ductus seminalis originating laterally near corpus bursae apex.

Variation. Specimens from Brazil are much lighter than the others, with color pattern very diffuse. Claviform and orbicular spots almost undifferentiated and transverse lines not well defined.

Immature stages and hosts. Crumb (1956) makes a detailed description of all stages and biology of this species, Hampson (1903), Forbes (1954), Crumb (1956), Godfrey (1987), and Lafontaine (2004) make a larval diagnosis. Chiesa Molinari (1942), Hayward (1969), and Pastrana (2004) (as A. psammophila and A. canietensis ) make lists of economically important host species.

Distribution. Western Hemisphere, except Poles ( Fig. 106 ).

Material examined. (40 ♂, 38 ♀). ARGENTINA : Soitue, ♀ 16-XI-1961 ( IMLA). Catamarca. Sierra de Ancasti, Villa el Alto, 1000m, 2 ♂ 20-III ( IMLA). Córdoba. Río Seco, ♂ 21-XI (Köhler) ( IMLA); San Alberto, Nono, ♀ 19-XI-2006 (GSB, F. Ocampo y E. Ruiz Manzanos) (IADIZA); Tulumba, Alto Flores, ♀ 26-XI-2006 (GSB, F. Ocampo y E. Ruiz Manzanos) (IADIZA). Mendoza. Malargüe, ♂ 2 ♀ 18-XI-1961 ( IMLA). Neuquén. Pucará, ♂ ( IMLA). BRAZIL. Rio Grande do Norte. Natal, ♂ 22-I-1917 (E.C. Green) ( USNM). São Paulo. Itanhaem, ♀ 8–10-X-1971 (E.G. + I. Munroe) ( CNC). UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Arizona. Huachuca Mts., ♂ 4 ♀ ( USNM); Maricopa, Chandler, ♀ 27-III-1978 (Ford) ( USNM); Pima, Baboquavaria Mts., 4 ♂ 2 ♀ 1–15-IX- 1924 (C.C. Poling) ( USNM), 2 ♂ ♀ 15–30-VI-1924 (C.C. Poling) ( USNM); Redington, ♂ ♀ ( USNM). Florida. Highlands, Archbold Biological Station, ♀ 26-III-1962 (D.C. Ferguson) ( USNM), ♀ 27-III-1962 (D.C. Ferguson) ( USNM), ♂ 28-III-1962 (D.C. Ferguson) ( USNM), ♀ 30-III-1962 (D.C. Ferguson) ( USNM). Georgia. Atlanta, ♂ 9-VII-1944 (P.W. Fatting) ( USNM). Virgin Islands. Saint Croix, 1mi W Airport, 11 ♂ 13 ♀ 6–16-VII-1967 (E.L. Todd) ( USNM). Kansas. Garden City, 2 ♂ ♀ 16-XI-1935 (H.H. Walkden) ( USNM). GUATEMALA. Jalapa. Mataquescuintla, ♂ 3-XII-1986 (L. LeSage) ( CNC). Zacapa. San Lorenzo, ♀ 12-VII-1986 (L. LeSage) ( CNC). MEXICO. Chiapas. San Cristóbal de las casas, ♀ 5-V-1969 (J.E.H. Martin) ( CNC), ♀ 15-VI-1969 (J.E.H. Martin) ( CNC), ♂ 9-VII-1969 (D. Kritsch) ( CNC), ♂ 18-VII-1969 (D. Kritsch) ( CNC), 2 ♂ ♀ 19-VII-1969 (D. Kritsch) ( CNC), ♀ 31-VII-1969 (D. Kritsch) ( CNC). PERU. Trujillo. Trujillo, 2 ♂ 2 ♀ ( USNM). DOMINICAN REPLUBLIC. La Vega. Constanza, Hotel Nueva Suiza, 1164m, 5 ♂ 29-V-1973 (Don & Mignon Davis) ( USNM).

Data from bibliographical sources. ARGENTINA . Falklands. Corrientes. Goya ( Hampson, 1903). BRAZIL. Río Grande do Sul. São Leopoldo ( Aurivillius et al., 1922); Guarani das Missões ( Specht et al., 2004); Pelotas ( Specht et al., 2004).

Discussion. Köhler (1961) describes A. psammophila based on dark specimens collected at San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina . Nevertheless, those specimens have the same thoracic lines, forewing lines, spot pattern, and genitalia of both sexes are identical to A. malefida . Founded on these similarities, I decide to synonymize the species. Hampson (1903) describes Lycophotia achromatica with three male specimens from Bahia, Brazil. These specimens have forewing ground color whitish with diffuse spots and transverse lines. Adults share with A. malefida the patagium and tegulum color patterns and male genitalic characters. Based on these resemblances, I decide to synonymize the species.

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 36. Adults of Agrotis species, fausta - group. 28, A. experta, ♂. 29, A. experta, ♀. 30, A. fausta, ♂. 31, A. fausta, ♀. 32, A. malefida, ♂. 33, A. malefida, ♀. 34 – 35, A. canities, ♂. 36, A. canities, ♀. Actual size.

FIGURES 56 – 63. Male genitalia of Agrotis species, fausta - and robusta - group. 56, A. experta. 57, A. fausta. 58, A. malefida. 59, A. canities. 60, A. s chreiteri. 61, A. araucaria. 62, A. ipsilon. 63, A. robusta.

FIGURES 74 – 80. Male genitalia aedeagus of Agrotis species, fausta - and robusta - group. 74, A. experta. 75, A. fausta. 76, A. malefida. 77, A. canities. 78, A. araucaria. 79, A. ipsilon. 80, A. robusta.

FIGURES 87 – 90. Female genitalia of Agrotis species, fausta - group. 87, A. experta. 88, A. fausta. 89, A. malefida. 90, A. canities.

FIGURES 106 – 111. Distribution maps of Agrotis species, fausta - and robusta - group. A. fausta. 106, A. malefida. 107, A. canities 108, A. schreiteri. 109, A. araucaria. 110, A. ipsilon. 111, A. robusta.