Agrotis

Blas, Germán San, 2014, Agrotis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a systematic analysis of South American species, Zootaxa 3771 (1), pp. 1-64 : 15-16

Key to South American species of the genus Agrotis

1 Forewing basal dash thick, dark, extending from wing base to or beyond claviform spot.............................. 2

1’ Forewing basal dash absent.............................................................................. 6

2 Forewing basal dash extending from wing base to base of claviform spot. Frons central projection with raised edge of rough surface, not projected anteriorly into a point................................................................. 3

2’ Forewing basal dash extending from wing base to beyond claviform spot. Frons central projection with raised edge of rough surface, projected anteriorly into a point, or frons smooth...................................................... 4

3 Tegulum lighter than thorax. Male forewing length 10.6–11.4 mm. Antemedial line undifferentiated; subterminal line light brown and black edged basally, concave between veins, as small arrows, extended basally as a streak between M1–M2 veins................................................................................ Agrotis steniptera (Dognin)

3’ Tegulum concolorous with thorax. Male forewing length 15.2–15.9 mm. Antemedial line black, double; subterminal line light brown and black edged, strongly concave between veins, extending basally as arrows, longest arrows between M1–M2–M3 veins............................................................................ Agrotis propriens (Dyar)

4 Tegulum lighter than thorax. Forewing subterminal line a series of light brown black-edged arrows between veins, arrows between M1–M2–M3 veins extending to postmedial line, first one joining with reniform streak like one continuous line. Frons central projection with raised edge of rough surface, projected anteriorly into a point............ Agrotis schreiteri (Köhler)

4’ Tegulum concolorous with thorax. Forewing subterminal line undifferentiated. Frons smooth, with no raised edge or central projection............................................................................................ 5

5 Forewing basal dash extending from wing base to wing outer margin, fading beyond claviform spot; reniform spot kidney shaped. Male antenna biserrate, widest segment 2.5 × as wide as central shaft. Patagium apical half slightly lighter than thorax............................................................................... Agrotis bistrigata Maassen

5’ Forewing basal dash extending from wing base to beyond claviform spot, never reaching wing outer margin; reniform spot shaped like a horizontal “ Y.” Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 3 × as wide as central shaft. Patagium concolorous with thorax.......................................................................... Agrotis dispar Köhler

6 Forewing subcostal band darker than forewing ground color.................................................... 7

6’ Forewing subcostal band undifferentiated................................................................. 12

7 Tegulum with blackish marginal line widened anteriorly....................................................... 8

7’ Tegulum without blackish marginal line, if present, not widened anteriorly....................................... 10

8 Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 3 × as wide as central shaft. Forewing ground color grayish to brownish gray; antemedial line not extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin; distal margin of reniform spot with a sharp streak extending between M1–M2 veins to postmedial line (absent in some specimens); fringe basal half whitish with darkish spots at apex of veins and distal half brown......................................... Agrotis fausta (Köhler)

8’ Male antenna biserrate, widest segment 2 × as wide as central shaft. Forewing ground color whitish to dark grayish brown; antemedial line extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin; distal margin of reniform spot with no streak, fringe concolorous with forewing ground color, with dark transverse lines at apex of veins...................... 9

9 Patagium with whitish postbasal line and blackish medial line, basal half dark brownish gray and distal half dark gray. Forewing subterminal line light brown, concave between veins, extended basally as small lighter arrows, longest ones placed between M1–M2–M3 veins, black edged basally.......................................... Agrotis malefida Guenée

9’ Patagium dark grayish brown with black medial line. Forewing subterminal line faint, light brown and black edged, concave between veins, in some specimens like arrows, with no differentially longer arrows................ Agrotis canities Grote

10 Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 3 × as wide as central shaft, abruptly tapered at 3/4 its length. Patagium and tegulum concolorous with thorax. Forewing area between wing base and postmedial line darker than ground color (more evident in females)......................................................................... Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel)

10’ Male antenna biserrate, widest segment 2 × as wide as central shaft. Patagium darker and tegulum darker or lighter than thorax. Forewing color constant ( Agrotis peruviana Hampson with darker basal area, but not extending beyond antemedial line)... 11

11 Forewing length 16.4–20.6 mm, ground color light brown; basal area and basal line undifferentiated; subterminal line light brown, extended basally as light arrows, longest ones placed between M1–M2–M3 veins, becoming two basally black and light brown-tipped arrows, arrows never contiguous with reniform streak; fringe concolorous with forewing ground color, dark transverse lines at apex of veins. Frons smooth, without raised edge or central projection....... Agrotis robusta (Blanchard)

11’ Forewing length 14.7–15.1 mm, ground color grayish brown; basal area darker than ground color; basal line black, double; subterminal line light brown and black edged, extended basally as arrows, longest ones between M1–M2–M3 veins, in some specimens first arrow joined with reniform streak like one continuous line; fringe light brown with brown basal, medial, and marginal lines. Frons central projection small, with raised edge of rough surface and projected anteriorly into a point.................................................................................... Agrotis peruviana (Hampson)

12 Forewing postmedial line black, double (some specimens of Agrotis araucaria with a single line, but not distally edged by a lighter shade)........................................................................................ 13

12’ Forewing postmedial line black, single, distally edged by a lighter shade......................................... 14

13 Patagium slightly darker than thorax, with black medial line, in some specimens dorsal half lighter than ventral half. Forewing discal cell concolorous with ground color; subterminal line light brown and black edged.......... Agrotis experta (Walker)

13’ Patagium concolorous with thorax, with black postbasal and medial lines. Forewing discal cell concolorous with ground color, with a black streak of variable width joining orbicular and reniform spots; subterminal line light brown, not black edged, undifferentiated in some specimens..................................................... Agrotis araucaria (Hampson)

14 Male antenna biserrate, widest segment 2–2.5 × as wide as central shaft......................................... 15

14’ Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 3–8 × as wide as central shaft......................................... 16

15 Posterior margin of reniform spot prolonged basally through medial vein; fringe light brown; arrows from subterminal line never contiguous with reniform streak. Known distribution: Southern Argentina ................. Agrotis elegans (Köhler)

15’ Posterior margin of reniform spot not prolonged basally; fringe light brown with dark medial line; arrows from subterminal line joined with reniform streak like one continuous line. Known distribution: Central East Chile...... Agrotis benitezi León

16 Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 8 × as wide as central shaft. Patagium basal half concolorous with thorax and distal half lighter than basal half. Forewing basal line undifferentiated; discal cell almost entirely darker than ground color; subterminal line undifferentiated............................................................... Agrotis leonoides Poole

16’ Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 3–6 × as wide as central shaft. Patagium concolorous with thorax or darker. Forewing basal line black, double or single; discal cell concolorous with ground color, or with a black streak of variable width joining orbicular and reniform spots; subterminal line evident, extending basally as arrows, longest one between M1–M2 veins..................................................................................................... 17

17 Patagium slightly darker than thorax with black basal, medial, and submarginal lines. Forewing basal and antemedial lines black, double; discal cell concolorous with ground color, with a black streak of variable width joining orbicular and reniform spots. Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 3 × as wide as central shaft.................... Agrotis edmondsi Butler

17’ Patagium concolorous with thorax with black basal line and lighter marginal line. Forewing basal and antemedial lines black, single, light brown basally; discal cell concolorous with ground color. Male antenna bipectinate, widest segment 6 × as wide as central shaft........................................................... Agrotis leucovenata San Blas & Gentili