Agrotis experta ( Walker, 1869 )

Blas, Germán San, 2014, Agrotis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a systematic analysis of South American species, Zootaxa 3771 (1), pp. 1-64 : 30

Agrotis experta ( Walker, 1869)

( Figs 28, 29 , 56 , 74 , 87 , 104 )

Laphygma experta Walker, 1869: 30 . Holotype: ♂ Peru (BMNH). Image examined.

Laphygma innotabilis Walker, 1869: 31 ; Hampson, 1903: 356 (new synonym); Poole, 1989: 50. Holotype: ♂ Peru (BMNH). Image examined.

Feltia experta (Walker) : Hampson, 1903: 356, pl. 68 fig. 18; Draudt, 1924: 55; Artigas, 1994: 582 –583 (diagnosis, life cycle, biological control, damages, hosts, economic importance, distribution, and international implications).

Chorizagrotis benefida Draudt, 1924: 51 , pl.13 row e. New synonym. Type /s: Ecuador, Rio Bamba. Type /s not found.

Agrotis experta (Walker) : Forbes, 1933: 20; Poole, 1989: 48 (world noctuid checklist); Angulo & Olivares, 2002: 6; Angulo & Olivares, 2005: 130 (diagnosis, male genitalia).

Scotia experta (Walker) : Köhler, 1967: 303, figs 37, 38 (new combination).

Agrotis benefida (Draudt) : Poole, 1989: 44 (new combination).

Diagnosis. Agrotis experta differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) forewing subcostal band and basal area undifferentiated; 2) discal cell concolorous with forewing ground color; 3) subterminal line not extended basally; 4) in male genitalia clavus subquadrate; 5) vesica 12 × as long as aedeagus; 6) in female genitalia corpus bursae 5 × as long as anterior apophysis; and 7) appendix bursae 12 × as long as corpus bursae.

Redescription. Male ( Fig. 28 ). Head. Palpus whitish ventrally; frons central projection with raised edge of rough surface, projected anteriorly into a faint point. Antenna basal half biserrate, widest at 1/5 its length, gradually tapering to apex, with apical half filiform, widest segment 2 × as wide as central shaft, anterior process slightly wider than posterior process. Thorax. Patagium slightly darker than thorax, with black medial line, in some specimens dorsal half lighter than ventral half; tegulum with black diffuse basal and marginal lines. Forewing length 15.8–17.6 mm; ground color light grayish brown to grayish brown; subcostal band and basal area undifferentiated; basal line black, double, convex between veins; antemedial line black, double, convex between veins, strongly extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin, coming near to wing center; claviform spot dark brown; orbicular spot oval, extending toward reniform spot, contiguous in some specimens, concolorous with ground color, black edged with grayish center; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, with no streaks; discal cell concolorous with ground color; medial line undifferentiated; postmedial line black, double, concave between veins; subterminal line light brown and black edged, concave between veins; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe light brown with brown medial line. Hind wing iridescent; fringe iridescent. Abdomen. Light brown. Genitalia ( Fig. 56 ). Uncus sinuous. Clavus subquadrate, as long as wide. Ampulla 1/5 × as long as valve, basal 1/3 expanded, then narrowed to half its widest diameter; saccus subtriangular. Vesica ( Fig. 74 ) 12 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of five wide loops, right basal diverticulum subtriangular. Female ( Fig. 29 ). Differences from male. Forewing length: 14.8–18.7 mm; antenna filiform; forewing ground color darker than male. Genitalia ( Fig. 87 ). Posterior apophysis less than 1.5 × as long as anterior apophysis; ductus bursae 3 × as long as anterior apophysis; corpus bursae 5 × as long as anterior apophysis, signum absent, apex subtriangular; appendix bursae 12 × as long as corpus bursae, consisting of five wide loops, apex globose; ductus seminalis originating at corpus bursae apex.

Biology. Artigas (1994) gives a short diagnosis and mentions that it takes from five to eight weeks to complete the life cycle.

Hosts. Economically important hosts include: chard, sesame, alfalfa, cotton, beans, potatoes, tobacco, and tomato ( Artigas 1994).

Remarks. Either in males or females forewing pattern can be very diffuse, in some specimens with only reniform spot differentiated and orbicular spot and a single postmedial line slightly distinguished.

The description and drawing of the adult of Chorizagrotis benefida ( Draudt 1924) corresponds to light specimens of Agrotis experta .

Distribution. Peru, Ecuador, and northern Chile ( Fig. 104 ).

Material examined. (13 ♂, 13 ♀). 3 ♀ ( USNM), ♂ (Raven) ( IMLA). CHILE: Tarapacá. Iquique, ♀ VIII-1987 (Crockwell) ( USNM). PERU: ♂ 9-II-1999 ( USNM), ♂ ( USNM). Lima. Cañete, ♂ 25-I-1941 (E.J. Hambleton) ( USNM); Huaral, ♂ ( USNM); Lima, ♂ 2 ♀ 19-II-1923 (D.S. Bullock) ( USNM), ♂ 10-XI-1963 (Raven) ( IMLA), 2 ♂ 01-VII-1964 (Raven) ( IMLA), ♀ 10-VII-1964 (Raven) ( IMLA), ♀ 18-VII-1964 (Raven) ( IMLA), ♂ 15-XI-1964 (Raven) ( IMLA); Tupe, 2 ♂ 2-XI-1926 (H.T. Tomms) ( USNM). La Libertad. Trujillo, ♂ 5 ♀ ( USNM).

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 100 – 105. Distribution map of Agrotis species, edmondsi - and fausta - group. 100, A. benitezi. 101, A. leonoides. 102, A. edmondsi. 103, A. leucovenata. 104, A. experta. 105.