Agrotis bistrigata Maassen, 1890

(Figs 9, 10, 48, 66, 81, 96)

Agrotis bistrigata Maassen, in Weymer & Maassen, 1890: 142, pl. 6 fig. 13; Poole, 1989: 45 (world noctuid checklist); Lafontaine, 2004: 23. Syntypes: 5 specimens [Colombia], Páramo de Chavez, 3200m (ZMHB). One male image examined.

Epipsilia bistrigata (Maassen): Draudt, 1924: 64, pl. 10 row i (new combination).

Diagnosis. Agrotis bistrigata differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) male antenna biserrate, widest segment 2.5 × as wide as central shaft; 2) forewing basal dash extending from wing base to wing outer margin, fading beyond claviform spot; 3) basal, antemedial, postmedial, and subterminal lines undifferentiated; 4) in male genitalia clavus cylindrical, short, 2 × as long as wide; and 5) basal spined band absent.

Redescription. Male (Fig. 9). Head. Palpus whitish ventrally; frons smooth, central projection and raised edge absent. Antenna basal 2/3 biserrate, widest at 1/5 its length, gradually tapering to apex, widest segment 2.5 × as wide as central shaft, anterior process 1.5 × as wide as posterior process. Thorax. Patagium with black medial line, apical half slightly lighter than thorax; tegulum without lines. Forewing length 14.1 mm; ground color light grayish brown to grayish brown; subcostal band undifferentiated; basal dash thick, black, extending from wing base to wing outer margin, fading beyond claviform spot; basal line undifferentiated; antemedial line undifferentiated; claviform spot wide, darkish; orbicular spot slightly differentiated as a small light oval area; reniform spot concolorous with ground color and black edged, in some specimens distal margin with a streak extending between M2–M3 veins to wing outer margin; discal cell darkish; medial line undifferentiated; postmedial line undifferentiated; subterminal line undifferentiated; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe concolorous with forewing ground color, grayish medial line. Hind wing diffuse brown; fringe iridescent. Abdomen. Concolorous with forewing ground color. Genitalia (Fig. 48). Clavus cylindrical, short, 2 × as long as wide. Ampulla 1/4 × as long as valve, basal half expanded, then narrowed to half its widest diameter; saccus subtriangular. Vesica (Fig. 66) 3 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of one wide loop, right basal diverticulum subcylindrical, basal spined band absent, vesica gradually swollen on apical 1/4. Female (Fig. 10). Differences from male. Forewing length: 15.5–19.2 mm; antenna filiform; forewing ground color darker than male; fringe light brown; hind wing from iridescent to diffuse brown. Genitalia (Fig. 81). Posterior apophysis 1.4 × as long as anterior apophysis; ductus bursae 2 × as long as anterior apophysis; corpus bursae 3 × as long as anterior apophysis, signum absent, apex globose; appendix bursae 3 × as long as corpus bursae, consisting of 1 1/4 wide loop, apex globose; ductus seminalis originating laterally very close to corpus bursae apex.

Distribution. Ecuador and Colombia (Fig. 96).

Material examined. (3 ♂, 3 ♀). ECUADOR: Loja. Environs de Loja, ♂ (Dognin) (CNC), 1892 ♂ (Dognin) (USNM, Genitalia slide No. 1642), 1887 ♀ (Dognin) (USNM, Genitalia slide No. 1643); Loja, 2500m, 25-III-1965 ♀ (L.E. Peña) (CNC); Valle de Loja, “ may 96 ” ♀ (USNM). Tinajillas. S. of Cuenca, 3100m, ♂ 18–21-III-1965 (L.E. Peña) (CNC).