Agrotis elegans ( Köhler, 1945 ), Kohler, 1945

Blas, Germán San, 2014, Agrotis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a systematic analysis of South American species, Zootaxa 3771 (1), pp. 1-64 : 22-23

Agrotis elegans ( Köhler, 1945)

( Figs 14, 15 , 51 , 69 , 82 , 99 )

Euxoa elegans Köhler, 1945: 89 , fig. 7a. Holotype: ♂ [ Argentina ] Tierra del Fuego (ZSM). Image examined. Allotype: ♀ same locality (MACN). Examined.

Scotia elegans ( Köhler): Köhler, 1967 : 302 (new combination).

Agrotis elegans (Köhler) : Poole, 1989: 47 (new combination).

Diagnosis. Agrotis elegans differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) patagium concolorous with thorax and tegulum lighter than thorax; 2) claviform spot wide; 3) posterior margin of reniform spot prolonged basally through medial vein; 4) in male genitalia vesica 6–7 × as long as aedeagus; 5) in female genitalia posterior apophysis 2 × as long as anterior apophysis; and 6) corpus bursae 8 × as long as anterior apophysis.

Redescription. Male ( Fig. 14 ). Head. Palpus whitish ventrally; frons central projection small, with raised edge of rough surface, projected anteriorly into a point, some specimens without this projection. Antenna basal 2/3 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 black medial line, some specimens with light gray submarginal line; tegulum gray, with black basal and submarginal lines. Forewing length 15.7–17.8 mm; ground color grayish brown to dark grayish brown; veins undifferentiated; subcostal band undifferentiated; basal area diffuse gray; basal line black, double, convex between veins; antemedial line black, double, basal margin diffuse, convex between veins, strongly extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin, coming near to medial line; claviform spot wide, dark grayish brown and black edged; orbicular spot variable in size, strongly oval, extending toward reniform spot, never contiguous, light brown, black edged with grayish brown center; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, posterior margin prolonged basally through medial vein, distal margin never attached to postmedial line, with a streak extending between M1–M2 veins to postmedial line; discal cell concolorous with ground color, with a black streak of variable width joining both spots; medial line faint, as a dark thick waved band; postmedial line black, single, concave between veins, distally edged by a light shade; subterminal line light brown and black edged, concave between veins, extended basally as arrows, longest ones between M1–M2–M3 veins, arrows never contiguous with reniform streak; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe light brown. Hind wing from fully iridescent to iridescent with veins and margins diffuse light brown; fringe iridescent. Abdomen. Concolorous with forewing ground color. Genitalia ( Fig. 51 ). Clavus barely differentiated as an area of piliform setae. Ampulla 1/5 × as long as valve, basal 1/3 expanded, then narrowed to 1/3 its widest diameter; saccus subtriangular. Vesica ( Fig. 69 ) 6–7 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of 1 1/2 wide loop, right basal diverticulum subtriangular, basal spined band present, vesica gradually swollen on apical 1/4, in some specimens it duplicates minor diameter. Female ( Fig. 15 ). Differences from male. Forewing length: 16.3–18.2 mm; antenna filiform; hind wing diffuse dark brown with light brown fringe. Genitalia ( Fig. 82 ). Posterior apophysis 2 × as long as anterior apophysis; ductus bursae 4 × as long as anterior apophysis; corpus bursae 8 × as long as anterior apophysis, signum absent, apex globose; appendix bursae 4 × as long as corpus bursae, consisting of 1 1/2 wide loop, apex globose; ductus seminalis originating laterally very close to corpus bursae apex.

Distribution. Restricted to Argentinean Patagonia ( Fig. 99 ).

Material examined. (47 ♂, 11 ♀). ARGENTINA : Neuquén. Arroyo Pantojo, 1100m, ♂ ♀ 12-I-1985 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco, Refugio Graeff, 1750m, ♀ 12-I-1977 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 26-XII-1980 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco Lenga, 1700m, ♂ 11-I-1983 (M y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Copahue, 1925m, ♂ ♀ 18-I- 1964 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 24-I-1969 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 25-I-1969 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 20-II- 1973 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ ♀ 16-I-1980 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Cordón Chapelco, 1750m, 4 ♀ 3-I-1967 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 1-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 12-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 15 ♂ ♀ 11- I-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 20 ♂ 22-I-1985 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Moquehue Icalma, 1250m, 2 ♂ 2- III-1984 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Pampa Quillen, 1250m, ♂ 12-XII-1967 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA).

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 15. Adults of Agrotis species, edmondsi - group. 7, A. steniptera, ♂. 8, A. propriens, ♂. 9, A. bistrigata, ♂. 10, A. bistrigata, ♀. 11, A. dispar, ♂. 12, A. dispar, ♀. 13, A. peruviana, ♂. 14, A. elegans, ♂. 15, A. elegans, ♀. Actual size.

FIGURES 46 – 55. Male genitalia of Agrotis species, edmondsi - group. 46, A. steniptera. 47, A. propriens. 48, A. bistrigata. 49, A. dispar. 50, A. peruviana. 51, A. elegans. 52, A. benitezi. 53, A. leonoides. 54, A. edmondsi. 55, A. leucovenata.

FIGURES 64 – 73. Male genitalia aedeagus of Agrotis species, edmondsi - group. 64, A. steniptera. 65, A. propriens. 66, A. bistrigata. 67, A. dispar. 68, A. peruviana. 69, A. elegans. 70, A. benitezi. 71, A. leonoides. 72, A. edmondsi. 73, A. leucovenata.

FIGURES 81 – 86. Female genitalia of Agrotis species, edmondsi - group. 81, A. bistrigata. 82, A. elegans. 83, A. benitezi. 84, A. leonoides. 85, A. edmondsi. 86, A. leucovenata.

FIGURES 94 – 99. Distribution maps of Agrotis species, edmondsi - group. 94, A. steniptera. 95, A. propriens. 96, A. bistrigata. 97, A. dispar. 98, A. peruviana. 99, A. elegans.