Agrotis peruviana (Hampson, 1909)

Blas, Germán San, 2014, Agrotis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a systematic analysis of South American species, Zootaxa 3771 (1), pp. 1-64 : 21-22

Agrotis peruviana (Hampson, 1909)

( Figs 13 , 50 , 68 , 98 )

Porosagrotis peruviana Hampson, 1909a: 367 ; Draudt, 1924: 35 (diagnosis). Syntypes: 2 ♂ S.E. Perú, Agualani (Ockenden) (BMNH). Image examined.

Porosagrotis peruviana form hampsoni Draudt, 1924: 35. Type: ♂ S.E. Perú, Agualani (Ockenden) (BMNH). Not examined. 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 Draudt (1924) has referred to this taxon as lower in rank than subspecies, I considered it a subspecies and objective junior synonym of Agrotis peruviana . New synonym. Note: Hampson (1909a) describes Porosagrotis peruviana from two male specimens and mentions that one of those males is an aberration, differentiated by: “forewing with black streak from claviform to postmedial line above submedian fold; hind wing wholly tinged with brown.” Draudt (1924) designates this species aberration by the name of Porosagrotis peruviana form hampsoni.

Rhizagrotis triclava Draudt, 1924: 51 , pl. 8, row f. Type /s: Colombia [Pacho]. Not found. New synonym.

Euxoa andina Köhler, 1945: 86 . Holotype: ♂ [Tucumán] Dpto. Tafí, Cerro de la Mina 3000m, IX-1933 (IMLA). Examined. New synonym. Note: There is some confutation as to the sex and identity of the original holotype. Köhler (1945) describes Euxoa andina from a female and called it allotype. In Köhler’s (1967) catalog there is a photo of a specimen labeled as “alotipo (m)” [allotype (male)]. At IMLA there is a male specimen labeled as Holotype that agrees with Köhler’s (1967) description and photo. There are two possibilities: 1) Köhler described the species with a female and labeled Allotype (females were traditionally called allotype), when he illustrated a male in 1967 he probably would have called it an allotype male, meaning it isn't the holotype, but being a male he later put it in the collection as the holotype; hence, there are two “ type ” specimens; or 2) as type specimen and 1967 photo are the same specimen, it is likely he realized it was a male after description and put it in the collection as holotype. Because there is no evidence Köhler had more than one specimen at moment of description, and both, description type locality and holotype at IMLA, has same locality information, I use the holotype at IMLA to define this species.

Scotia andina ( Köhler): Köhler, 1967 : 295, fig. 29; Köhler, 1968: 4, pl. 1, fig. 2, pl. 4, fig. 2.

Scotia andina form obscurior Köhler, 1968: 4, pl. 1, figs 3, 4. 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 it is not regulated by the Code [Art. 1.1.1] and it is excluded from its provisions [Arts. 1.3.4, 45.6.3].”

Agrotis peruviana (Hampson) : Poole, 1989: 53 (new combination).

Agrotis triclava (Draudt) : Poole, 1989: 57 (new combination).

Agrotis andina (Köhler) : Poole, 1989: 43 (new combination); Velázquez Medina, 1990: 24 –26, figs 17, 27–29 (redescription); Angulo, 1994: 56, 60, 61, fig. 11 (female genitalia); Angulo & Olivares, 2005: 131, 134–135 (diagnosis, male genitalia).

Diagnosis. Agrotis peruviana differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) forewing subcostal band darker than ground color; 2) subterminal line light brown and black edged, strongly concave between veins, extended basally as arrows, longest ones between M1–M2–M3 veins; 3) hind wing pellucid brown; 4) in male genitalia vesica 6–7 × as long as aedeagus; and 5) basal spined band absent.

Redescription. Male ( Fig. 13 ). Head. Palpus whitish ventrally; frons central projection small, with raised edge of rough surface, projected anteriorly into a point. 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 1.3 × as wide as posterior process. Thorax. Patagium brown, with black medial line; tegulum slightly lighter than patagium, with black basal and marginal lines. Forewing length 14.7–15.1 mm; ground color grayish brown; subcostal band darker than ground color; basal area brownish; basal line black, double; antemedial line black, double, convex between veins, strongly extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin, reaching medial line; claviform spot dark grayish brown, black edged; orbicular spot strongly oval, extending toward reniform spot, in some specimens contiguous with the latter, grayish brown, black edged with grayish center; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, distal margin with a sharp streak extended between M1–M2 veins to postmedial line; discal cell concolorous with ground color; medial line faint, as a dark thick waved band; postmedial line black, double, concave between veins; subterminal line light brown and black edged, strongly concave between veins, extended basally as arrows, longest ones between M1–M2–M3 veins, in some specimens the first arrow joined with reniform streak like one continuous line; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe light brown with brown basal, medial, and marginal lines. Hind wing pellucid brown, basal and distal margins diffuse brown; discal spot blackish; fringe whitish. Abdomen. Concolorous with forewing ground color. Genitalia ( Fig. 50 ). Clavus barely differentiated as an area of piliform setae. Ampulla 1/4 × as long as valve, basal 1/3 expanded, then narrowed to 2/3 its widest diameter; saccus hemispherical. Vesica ( Fig. 68 ) 6–7 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of 1 1/2 wide loop, right basal diverticulum subtriangular, basal spined band absent, vesica swollen on apical 1/4. Female. Unknown.

Distribution. North of Argentina , Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia ( Fig. 98 ). According to Angulo & Olivares (2005), this species is distributed in Chile from VII Region del Maule, Alto Vilches to VIII Region del Biobío, Cobquecura.

Material examined. (10 ♂). BOLIVIA. Songotal. Cuticucho, 3700m, ♂ 2-II-1954 (Forster) ( ZSM); Cuticucho, Valle del río Songo, 3700m, ♂ 1-XII-1953 (W. Forster) ( ZSM), 2 ♂ 2-XII-1953 (W. Forster) ( ZSM), 2 ♂ 30-I-1954 (W. Forster) ( ZSM). PERU. Cuzco. Cuzco, ♂ III-1969 ( IMLA). Lima. 45 km NE Chosica, Millo Valley, Quebrada Yanac, 4000m, 2 ♂ 26–28-I-1987 (Karsholt) ( ZMUC). Puno. 10 km N Lampa, Quebrada Metara, 3900m, ♂ 31-III-3-IV-1987 (Karsholt) ( ZMUC).

Discussion. Honey (1988) mentions that guided by the description and specimens in the BMNH, he transferred Rhizagrotis triclava Draudt to Agrotis v. near andina Köhler. After reading the description of R. triclava and the drawing in Draudt’s publication, I agree with the observation made by Honey (op. cit).

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 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.