Agrotis robusta ( Blanchard, 1852 )

Blas, Germán San, 2014, Agrotis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a systematic analysis of South American species, Zootaxa 3771 (1), pp. 1-64 : 54-55

Agrotis robusta ( Blanchard, 1852)

( Figs 44, 45 , 63 , 80 , 93 , 111 )

Noctua robusta Blanchard, 1852: 75 pl. 6, fig. 9. Holotype: ♂ Chile (MNHN). Image examined.

Agrotis aureolum Schaus, 1898: 107 ; Hampson, 1903: 368 (= A. ypsilon Rottenburg ); Poole, 1989: 56 (= A. ipsilon Hufnagel ); San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013: 1154 (new synonym). Holotype: ♂ [ Brazil], Paraná, Castro (USNM). Examined.

Agrotis ipsilon robusta (Blanchard) : Druce, 1881 –1900: 281.

Agrotis robusta (Blanchard) : Berg, 1882: 280 (= Agrotis ypsilon (Rottenburg)) ; Butler, 1882: 126 (= Agrotis suffusa (Denis & Schiffermüller)) ; Hampson, 1903: 368 (= A. ipsilon (Huf.)) ; Hampson, 1905a: 702 (= A. ipsilon (Huf.)) ; Forbes, 1933: 19 (= A. ipsilon (Huf.)) ; Poole, 1989: 55 (= A. malefida Gn. ); San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013: 1153 –1158, figs 1A–1E, 2, 3 I– 3 L (redescription and misidentification).

Scotia koehleri Berio, 1963: 12 , figs 1–3; Köhler, 1967: 331, fig. 74; Margheritis & Rizzo, 1970: 164 (collected at Aluminé Lake, Neuquén, Argentina ). Holotype: ♂ [ Argentina ], Tandil, Buenos Aires III-IV-1953 (Walz). Not examined. Allotype: ♀ same data. Not examined. Paratypes: 19 ♂ 11 ♀ [ Argentina ], Tandil, Buenos Aires III-IV-1953 (Walz). Not examined. Note: In the description of A. koehleri, Berio (1963) mentions that holotype, allotype, and 30 paratypes, all of the same locality, are deposited in his collection and one paratype of the same locality and 42 paratypes of different localities are deposited in Köhler’s collection. IMLA Köhler’s collection contains eight paratypes in which labels agree with localities cited by Berio but with different dates.

Scotia (Feltia) fulvaurea Köhler, 1966: 97 , figs 1, 3. Holotype: ♂ [ Argentina ], Tucumán, Siambón, 2000m, 11-V (IMLA). Examined. Paratypes: 3 ♂ 3 ♀ [ Argentina ], Tucumán, Río Nío, 1000m, 12-V (IMLA); 7 ♂ 5 ♀ [ Argentina ], Tucumán, Siambón, 2000m, 11-V (IMLA), 3 ♂ 3 ♀ 11-V-1965 (IMLA); ♂ [ Argentina ], Tucumán, [ San Pedro de Colalao] 22-IV (IMLA); 2 ♂ 2 ♀ [ Argentina ], Tucumán, San Pedro de Colalao 22-IV-1961 (IMLA); ♂ [ Bolivia], [Cochabamba], Alto Palmar-Chaparé, 1100m, (IMLA); ♂ Bolivia, La Paz, 3600–4000m, 25-VII-1954 (Forster) (IMLA). Examined. Note: When Köhler (1966) describes Scotia (Feltia) fulvaurea , he cites type information and its localities as follow: “Holotipo, Alotipo y 120 Paratipos: en la colección del autor, paratipos en el Instituto Lillo [Holotype, allotype, and 120 paratypes: hosted in his collection, paratypes at IMLA]. Procedencias [Provenance]: Siambón, Tucumán, 2.000m, II-V-1965, Köhler; Río Nío, Tucumán, 1.600m, 13-V-1965, Köhler; Rosario de la Frontera, Salta, 27-II-1956, Pierrotti; San Pedro de Colalao, Tucumán, 22-IV-1961, Köhler; La Paz, Bolivia, 3.600/ 4.000m, 25-V-1954, Forster; La Banda, Santiago del Estero, 20-IV- 1960, Köhler; Alto Palmar, Río Chapare, Bolivia, 2.000m, Andrae; Río Chuscha, Tucumán, 1.000m, 12-V-1965, Köhler; Cochabamba, Bolivia, 2.000m, Andrae; Puno, Perú, 3.000m, II-1945, Weyrauch.” I have not found the Allotype either at IMLA or ZSM. At IMLA there is one specimen labeled as allotype with the following locality data: “El Rodeo 2000m ♀ (IMLA).” Because this locality data does not agree with any of those cited by Köhler, I do not cite it as type material. Underlined paratypes correspond to specimens labeled as paratype in which labels do not agree completely with those cited by Köhler.

Scotia fulvaurea form extrema Köhler, 1966: 100. According to the 15.2 ICZN article: ”A new name published after 1960 expressly as the name of a "variety" or "form" is deemed to be infrasubspecific and as such is not regulated by the Code [Art. 1.1.1] and is excluded from its provisions [Arts. 1.3.4, 45.6.3].”

Scotia (Feltia) ancastiensis Köhler, 1966: 101 . Holotype: ♂ [ Argentina ], Catamarca, Sierra de Ancasti, El Alto, 1000m, 21-III (IMLA). Examined. Paratypes: ♂ [ Argentina ], Catamarca, Sierra de Ancasti, El Alto, 1000m, 21-III (IMLA). Examined.

Agrotis anacastiensis (Köhler) [sic]: Poole, 1989: 43 (new combination).

Agrotis fulvaurea (Köhler) : Hayward, 1969: 41 (hosts); Poole, 1989: 48 (world noctuid checklist); Pastrana, 2004: 155; San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013: 1154 (new synonym).

Agrotis koehleri (Berio) : Dapoto et al., 2003: 70; Fibiger, 1990: 74 (cited as a probable synonym of A. robusta Blanchard ); San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013: 1154 (new synonym).

Agrotis ancastiensis (Köhler) : San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013: 1154 (new synonym).

Diagnosis. Agrotis robusta differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) male forewing ground color light brown and female grayish brown; 2) patagium and tegulum darker than thorax; 3) subterminal line light brown, extending basally between M1–M2–M3 veins seeming two basally black and light brown-tipped arrows; 4) in male genitalia vesica with basal spined band absent; 5) in female genitalia corpus bursae with two signa; and 6) appendix bursae 4–5 × as long as corpus bursae.

Redescription. Male ( Figs 44 , 63 , 80 ). Forewing length 16.4–20.6 mm. Female ( Figs 45 , 93 ). Forewing length 17.2–20.8 mm. (see San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013).

Distribution. From Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia to Southern Chile and Argentina ( Fig. 111 ). In Argentina , it occurs in almost every province, from Salta to Santa Cruz.

Remarks. Agrotis robusta has been confused with A. ipsilon and A. malefida on several works (see San Blas & Barrionuevo, 2013). The first one can be easily differentiated from the others by the darker color of tegulum and patagium compared to thorax.

In Southern South America, specifically Argentina , Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia, A. malefida is considered a pest of several crops, but in fact most of those specimens correspond to A. robusta . Agrotis malefida is relatively rare in Southern South America, supported by the number of specimens in collections. Even though pest species are not always well represented in museum collections and this could be a sample bias, evidence from various publications, including those related to agriculture, may indicate that A. malefida it is not a pest species in this region as could it be A. robusta . Further work is needed, together with an accurate identification of specimens, to validate this affirmation.

Material examined. (238 ♂ and 125 ♀). ARGENTINA . La Lucila, ♂ 14-IV-1952 (Fleiss) ( IMLA). Buenos Aires. Capital, ♂ III-1963 (Köhler) ( IMLA); Juancho, ♂ III-1957 (Petrowsky) ( IMLA); Tandil, 3 ♂ ( IMLA); Tigre, 7 ♂ II-1964 ( IMLA). Catamarca. El Rodeo, 2000m, 9 ♂ ♀ ( IMLA), ♀ 15-IV-1964 (Köhler) ( IMLA); Sierra de Ancasti, Villa el Alto, 1000m, ♂ 20-III ( IMLA). Chubut. El Maitén, 700m, 2 ♂ ♀ 16-I-1986 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Esquel, 3 ♂ I-1969 ( IMLA); Futalaufquen, 550m, ♂ 15-II-1982 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Gualjaina, 550m, ♀ 19-XII-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Los Cipreses, 650m, ♂ 13-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA). La Pampa. General Pico, ♂ (Williamson) ( IMLA), ♂ IV-1967 (Williamson) ( IMLA), 5 ♂ 15-V-1967 ( IMLA). Neuquén. Aeropuerto Chapelco, 780m, ♂ 12-XII-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 30-XII-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 7-IV-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Aguada Florencio, 870m, ♀ 6-I-1985 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Aluminé Rahue, 900m, ♀ 17-I-1972 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Arroyo Remeco, 1250m, ♂ 17-I- 1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Bajada Marucho, 870m, ♂ 6-I-1967 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Cerro de los Pinos, 950m, ♂ 9-XII-1972 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco, 1700m, ♀ 20-II-1973 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco Lenga, 1700m, ♂ 28-XI-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 3-I-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ ♀ 24-I-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco Ñire, 1000m, ♀ 24-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco Techos, 1400m, ♀ 19-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 28-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 30-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 31-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 16-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 3 ♂ 19- II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 21-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 23-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 1-III-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♀ 30-III-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); ♂ 24-I-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Cordón Chachil, 1350m, ♀ 24-I-1970 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Cordón Chapelco, 1750m, 7 ♂ 6 ♀ 14-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 21-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 13 ♂ 6 ♀ 28-I- 1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 19-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 4 ♂ 23-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ ♀ 22-I-1985 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Currhue Escorial, 950m, ♀ 29-III-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Estancia Collunco, 900m, ♀ 19-XII-1973 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Hua Hum, ♂ 8–17-X-1964 (Hayward & Willink) ( IMLA); Lago Lacar, Nonthue, 650m, ♂ 27-XII-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 4 ♂ 19-I- 1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 2 ♀ 26-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 22-II-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 2-XII-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 3 ♂ 2 ♀ 2-I-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 12-I-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Lacar, Trompul, 1000m, ♂ 6-I-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 6-XII-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Queñi, 875m, ♂ ♀ 13-I-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Loncopué, Catán Lil, Estancia Santa Isabel, 900m, ♀ 24-III-1973 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Moquehue Icalma, 1250m, ♀ 2-III-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Neuquén ♂ 23-III-1952 ( IMLA); Paso Córdoba, 1200–1300m, ♂ 21-I-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Paso Puyehue, 1350m, ♂ 11-I-1985 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Pino Hachado, 1750m, ♀ 30-I-1974 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Pucará, 3 ♂ 5 ♀ III-1959 ( IMLA); Pucará, Parque Nacional Lanin, 2 ♂ 2 ♀ I-1951 (Schajovskoy) ( IMLA); Quilahuintos, 1100m, ♂ 30-XII-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Río Aluminé, Pulmarí, 925m, 2 ♂ ♀ 27-II-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Río Collón Cura, 650m, ♂ ♀ 29-XII-1994 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Sainuco, Kilca, 1700m, 2 ♂ 13-XII-1969 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); San Martín de los Andes, 647m, ♂ 4- I-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 11-II-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 21-II-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 30- XII-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 31-XII-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 16-I-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 3 ♀ 31-I-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 10-II-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 3-I-1960 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 24-I-1960 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 30-XII-1960 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 4 ♀ 15-I-1961 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 1-XII-1961 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 30-XII-1962 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 15-I-1963 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 10-I-1964 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 16-III-1964 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 1-XII-1964 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 5-III-1965 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 2-II-1968 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 4-V-1968 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ ♀ 6-II-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 26-XII-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); San Martín de los Andes, ♀ XII-1949 (Schajovskoy) ( IMLA), ♂ III-1959 ( IMLA); San Martín de los Andes, Truran Kura, 1000m, ♂ 2-XII-1985 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 15-XI-1995 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Sañicó, 752m, ♀ 14- III-1972 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA). Río Negro. Arroyo Pichileufú, 1100m, ♂ 17-I-1986 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); El Bolsón, Cerro Piltriquitrón, 1000m, ♂ 2 ♀ 22-XII-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); El Tronador, ♀ II-1946 (Vellard) ( IMLA); San Carlos de Bariloche, Colonia Suiza, 810m, ♂ 9-I-1979 (Misión Científica Danesa) ( CNC). Salta. Salta, ♂ (Breyer) ( IMLA). Santa Cruz. 1 km S Perito Moreno, 422m, (46°34'18.9''S, 70°53'27.1'' O) ♂ 17-I- 2007 (GSB & A. Srur) (IADIZA); El Turbio, 200m, ♂ 20-I-1976 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA; Punta Bandera-Lago Argentino, 3 ♂ I-1963 ( IMLA). Santiago del Estero. Frías, ♂ 21-IV-1961 ( IMLA); La Banda, ♂ ( IMLA), ♂ 20-V- 1963 ( IMLA). Tucumán. Quebrada de Lules, 2 ♂ II-1925 ( IMLA); Río Nío, 1000m, 2 ♀ 12-V ( IMLA); San Pedro de Colalao, 2 ♂ 22-IV-1961 ( IMLA); Sunchal, ♂ IV-1964 ( IMLA); Tafí Viejo, Siambón, 2000m, 2 ♀ 11-V-1965 ( IMLA), 3 ♂ 13 ♀ 16-V-1965 ( IMLA), 20 ♂ 4 ♀ V-1965 (Köhler) ( IMLA), 2 ♀ 16-V-1965 ( IMLA), 2 ♀ 11-V ( IMLA). CHILE. Metropolitan region. Santiago, La Granja, 2 ♂ ♀ 15-III-1969 ( IMLA). Region VII, Maule. Curicó, 1km N Curicó, 7 ♂ 2 ♀ 29-XI-1982 (R.L. Brown) ( UNSM). Region VIII, Bio Bio. Nuble, Alto Tregualemu, 500 mtrs, ca. 20 km SE Chovellen, 3 ♂ 5 ♀ 26–27-I-1979 (D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) ( USNM); Nuble, Las Trancas, ♀ I-III-1967 ( CNC). Region IX, Araucanía. Cautín, Fundo el Coigue, 500 mtrs 27 km NE Villarrica, 379m, 3 ♂ 4 ♀ 28-II-3-III-1979 (D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) ( USNM); Malleco, Curacautín, Río Blanco, 1100m, ♂ ♀ II-1964 (Peña) ( CNC); Malleco, nr. Los Gringos Camp., Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta, 1300m, 10 ♂ ♀ 6–11-I-1982 (D.R. Davis) ( USNM), 30 ♂ 8 ♀ 29-I-5-II-1979 (D. & M. Davis & B. Akebergs) ( USNM); Malleco, Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta, Pichinahuel, 500m, ♂ 16–20-XII-1993 (G. & M. Wood) ( CNC); Temuco, Fundo La Selva, 48km NW Nueva Imperial, 700m, 8 ♂ ♀ 9–11-XII-1981 (D.R. Davis) ( USNM). PARAGUAY. Caaguazú. Carumbé, 2 ♂ 28-I-10-III-1965 ( IMLA).

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 45. Adults of Agrotis species, robusta - group. 37, A. s chreiteri, ♂. 38 – 39, A. araucaria, ♂. 40 – 41, A. araucaria, ♀. 42, A. ipsilon, ♂. 43, A. ipsilon, ♀. 44, A. robusta, ♂. 45, A. robusta, ♀. 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 91 – 93. Female genitalia of Agrotis species, robusta - group. 91, A. araucaria. 92, A. ipsilon. 93, A. robusta.

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.