Agrotis canities (Grote, 1902)

(Figs 34–36, 59, 77, 90, 107)

Peridroma canities Grote, 1902: 295 . Syntypes: 2 ♀ Argentina, Goya (Perrins) (BMNH); 2 ♂ Buenos Aires (Schimpfer) (BMNH). One male syntype image examined.

Feltia canities (Grote): Hampson, 1903: 355, pl. 68, fig. 17 (new combination); Draudt, 1924: 55, pl. 9, row b (diagnosis); Köhler, 1945: 100, pl. 1, figs f and 8c (redescription).

Agrotis canities (Grote): Forbes, 1933: 21 (new combination); Poole, 1989: 45 (world noctuid checklist); Specht et al., 2004: 12 (collected at Brazil); Specht et al., 2005: 132, 136 (collected at Brazil).

Scotia canities (Grote): Köhler, 1967: 299, fig. 65 (new combination).

Diagnosis. Agrotis canities differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) forewing length in males 15.2–17.3 mm, in females 15.3–15.6 mm; 2) ground color light grayish brown; 3) in male genitalia vesica 8 × as long as aedeagus; 4) right basal diverticulum absent; and 5) in female genitalia appendix bursae 6–7 × as long as corpus bursae.

Redescription. Male (Figs 34, 35). Head. Frons central projection small, with raised edge of rough surface, not projected anteriorly, some specimens with central projection without raised edge. Antenna 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 dark grayish brown, with black medial line; tegulum light gray, with blackish marginal line widened anteriorly. Forewing length 15.2–17.3 mm; ground color light grayish brown; subcostal band dark grayish brown; basal area darker than ground color; basal line black, double, undifferentiated in some specimens; antemedial line black, double, convex between veins, extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin, never close to medial line; claviform spot black; orbicular spot strongly oval, extending toward reniform spot, contiguous in some specimens, concolorous with ground color, black edged with grayish center; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, distal margin with no streak; discal cell concolorous with ground color, with black streak of variable width joining both spots; medial line faint, as a dark thick waved band; postmedial line black, double, concave between veins, some specimens with a single line, extending on veins to apical margin; subterminal line faint, light brown and black edged, concave between veins, in some specimens like arrows, never contiguous with postmedial line; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe concolorous with forewing ground color with dark transverse lines at veins apex. Hind wing iridescent; fringe iridescent. Abdomen. Light grayish brown, with dark dorsal line. Genitalia (Fig. 59). Uncus sinuous. Clavus cylindrical, short, 2 × as long as wide. Ampulla 1/5 × as long as valve, basal 1/3 expanded, then narrowed to half its widest diameter; saccus hemispherical. Vesica (Fig. 77) 8 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of four wide loops, right basal diverticulum absent, vesica slightly swollen on apical 1/5. Female (Fig. 36). Differences from male. Forewing length: 15.3–15.6 mm; antenna filiform; ground color light grayish brown to grayish brown; hind wing iridescent or with dark brown veins and anal and apical margins diffuse dark brown. Genitalia (Fig. 90). Posterior apophysis 1.5 × as long as anterior apophysis; ductus bursae 2 × as long as anterior apophysis; corpus bursae 7 × as long as anterior apophysis, signum absent, apex subtriangular; appendix bursae 6–7 × as long as corpus bursae, consisting of six wide loops, apex globose; ductus seminalis originating laterally near corpus bursae apex.

Distribution. Center and North of Argentina (Fig. 107). Specht et al. (2004, 2005) cite this species for South of Brazil.

Material examined. (21 ♂, 5 ♀). ARGENTINA: Catamarca. Belén, Barrame Lanza, 2 ♂ II-1937 (IMLA); Choya, 2 ♂ X-1961 (IMLA); Sierra de Ancasti, Ipizca, 1000m, ♂ 15-V-1961 (IMLA). Córdoba. La Paz, ♀ 1–15-I- 1929 (Bruch) (MACN); Obispo Trejo, ♂ 3-XI-1962 (Köhler) (IMLA), ♂ (Köhler) (IADIZA); Yacanto, ♀ (Köhler) (MACN). La Rioja. La Rioja, 2 ♂ 20-XI-1958 (IMLA), ♂ (MACN); Patquia, Guayapa, ♂ 1–19-X-1954 (Hayward) (IMLA). Mendoza. Malargüe, 2 ♀ 18-XI-1961 (IMLA); San Rafael, ♂ 17-XII-1964 (IMLA); ♂ 20-XII (IMLA); Tunuyán, Tunuyán, 1500m, 2 ♂ 15-III-1954 (IMLA). Santiago del Estero. La Banda, ♂ 26-IV (Köhler) (IMLA).

Salta. Galpón, ♀ 15-IX-1966 (IMLA); Orán, Aguas Blancas, ♂ (Vollenwelder) (IMLA); Tunal, 2 ♂ 24-XI-1967 (IMLA). Tucumán. Las Cejas, 2 ♂ 20-V (Köhler) (IMLA). Data from bibliographical sources. BRAZIL. Río Grande do Sul. Pelotas (Specht et al., 2004); Reserva Biológica do Ibirapuitã (Specht et al., 2005)