Patagobia thursbyi (Rothschild) Schmidt, B. Christian & Freina, Josef J. De, 2011

Schmidt, B. Christian & Freina, Josef J. De, 2011, Generic placement of the Neotropical species of " Phragmatobia " (Erebidae, Arctiinae), with a remarkable matrivorous species from the Peruvian Andes, ZooKeys 149, pp. 69-88 : 77

Patagobia thursbyi (Rothschild) comb. n.

Turuptiana thursbyi Rothschild 1910: 176, comb. n. Five male syntypes (BMNH). Type locality: [ Argentina ], Patagonia, Chubut, Valley de Lago Blanco.

Phragmatobia thursbyi pluto Toulgoët, 1987: 241, syn. n.

Type material.

Male holotype (ZMUC). Type locality: Argentina, Rio Negro, San Carlos de Bariloche, Colonia Suiza, 810 m.

Diagnosis.

The taxon pluto Toulgoët has been treated as a subspecies distinct from nominate thursbyi based on the nearly unicolourous forewing, resulting from the confluence of the transverse bands. Genitalic structure of both taxa is identical ( Toulgoët 1987). Examination of series of specimens from a single locality (Fig. 4b-d) shows that there is considerable variation in the extent of forewing banding, and also in the hindwing ground colour. We therefore treat pluto as a synonym of nominate Patagobia thursbyi .

Remarks.

No detailed habitat information is available for Patagobia thursbyi , but locality information shows that it occurs from about 800 m elevation at the southern range edge (46°S) to 2700 m farther north (33°S), corresponding to temperate montane woodlands and grasslands of Patagonia. This region is well known for its high level of endemic species, and circumantarctic tree genera such as Araucaria Juss. and Nothofagus Blume ( World Wildlife Fund 2001). Examined specimens and literature records (Fig. 18) are as follows Chile - Malleco Prov.: Cordillera las Raices, Lonquimay, 1050 m (CNC, ZSM); La Fusta, 1200 m (CNC, ZSM); Cordillera Lonquimay, Icalama 1000 m (AMNH, ZSM); Termas de Rio Blanco ( Ruiz 1989, ZSM); Cautin region ( Ruiz 1989); Nuble Prov.: Chillan, ( Ruiz 1989); Santiago: Cantillana [highlands], [Laguna de] Aculeo ( Toulgoët 1987). Argentina - Chubut Prov.: Valle del Lago Blanco (BMNH, ZSM); Neuquen Prov.: Pampa Tromen, Huayilon ( Ruiz 1989, ZSM); San Martin de los Andes (ZSM); Aluminé, 1200 m ( Toulgoët 1987); Rio Negro Prov.: San Carlos de Bariloche, Colonia Suisa, 810 m ( Toulgoët 1987, ZSM); Paso Flores (ZSM); Mendoza region, 2750 m ( Toulgoët 1987).