Agrotis araucaria Hampson 1903

Agrotis araucaria (Hampson, 1903)

(Figs 38–41, 61, 78, 91, 109)

Euxoa araucaria Hampson, 1903: 182, pl. 60, fig. 21; Draudt, 1924: 36, pl. 4, row h (diagnosis); Köhler, 1945: 82, fig. 8a (male genitalia). Holotype: ♂ [Chile], Valparaíso (J. J. Walker) (BMNH). Image examined.

Euxoa araucaria form argentina Draudt, 1924: 36. Holotype: ♂ Argentina, Andes (Fitzgerald) (BMNH). Image 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 consider it a subspecies and I agree with Poole (1989) to consider this subspecies as synonym of Euxoa araucaria Hampson.

Agrotis livens Köhler, 1958: 13; Poole, 1989: 51 (world noctuid checklist). Paratype: ♂ [Argentina] [Buenos Aires] Bolívar (IMLA). Examined. New synonym.

Agrotis livens Köhler (1958)1959: 53; Poole, 1989: 51 (as junior secondary homonym and synonym of Agrotis livens Köhler, 1958). Note: Köhler describes A. livens in two different publications: 1958 and (1958)1959. In both publications he designates holotype, allotype, and paratypes, but he does not specify locality of each one, he only mentions habitat. The habitat cited in both works is not exactly the same, in 1958: “Buenos Aires; Pedro Luro (6-IV-1946, Gahan). Bolívar (Llano)” and in (1958)1959: “Pedro Luro, Río Colorado, Bs. Aires, 6-IV-1946, II. Gahan, leg.” Poole (1989) designates A. livens Köhler (1958)1959 as a junior primary homonym and synonym of A. livens Köhler (1958). Despite habitat is not the same for both species, I agree with Poole (1989) in synonymizing both species because descriptions are almost the same, there are no differences between these species, and there is no material either at IMLA or ZSM that shows evidence Köhler designates different types for the species.

Agrotis capayana Köhler, (1958)1959: 54; Poole, 1989: 45 (world noctuid checklist). Holotype: ♂ Argentina, Catamarca, Los Ángeles, Capayan, 1800m, II-1941 (Schäfer) (ZSB). Image examined. Allotype: ♀ Argentina, Catamarca, Hualfín, 1870m, III-1941 (Pierrotti) (ZSB). Not examined. New synonym. Note: Köhler ((1958)1959) describes A. capayana from two specimens of different sex collected at Catamarca, Argentina. At IMLA there is one female labeled as allotype with same locality as mentioned by Köhler but neither the date nor the collector’s information matches. For this reason, allotype information (underlined) given consists of the data mentioned by Köhler and the data on the “allotype” at IMLA is placed as examined material.

Scotia araucaria (Hampson): Köhler, 1967: 296 (new combination).

Scotia araucaria argentina (Draudt): Köhler, 1967: 296, figs 35, 36 (new combination).

Scotia capayana (Köhler): Köhler, 1967: 299 (new combination).

Scotia livens (Köhler): Köhler, 1967: 309, fig. 34 (new combination).

Agrotis araucaria (Hampson): Hayward, 1969: 41 (new combination, hosts); Poole, 1989: 44 (world noctuid checklist); Velasquez Medina, 1990: 26, figs 16, 24–26 (redescription); Angulo, 1994: 56, 60–61, fig. 9 (female genitalia); Giganti et al., 1994: 70, 73 (associated to Andean Patagonic Forest); Dapoto et al., 2003: 101 (= A. edmondsi Butler); Pastrana, 2004: 155 (hosts); Angulo & Olivares, 2005: 131 –134 (diagnosis).

Agrotis argentina (Draudt): Hayward, 1969: 41 (hosts).

Agrotis araucaria argentina (Draudt): Poole, 1989: 44 (= A. araucaria Hampson).

Diagnosis. Agrotis araucaria differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) patagium concolorous with thorax and tegulum concolorous with patagium or lighter; 2) forewing basal line double; 3) distal margin of reniform spot with no streak, 4) in male genitalia uncus slightly curved, narrowed toward apex; 5) clavus cylindrical, 2–4 × as long as wide; 6) vesica 10 × as long as aedeagus; 7) in female genitalia ductus bursae 3 × as long as anterior apophysis; and 8) corpus bursae 9 × as long as anterior apophysis.

Redescription. Male (Figs 38, 39). Head. Palpus slightly dark; frons central projection small, with circular or subrectangular raised edge of rough surface and faintly projected anteriorly into a point. Antenna basal 2/3 biserrate, widest at 1/5 its length, gradually tapering to apex, with apical 1/3 filiform, widest segment 2 × as wide as central shaft, anterior process 2 × as wide as posterior process. Thorax. Patagium with black postbasal and medial lines; tegulum concolorous with thorax to light gray, with black basal and submarginal lines. Forewing length 13.5–17.1 mm; ground color whitish gray to dark grayish brown; subcostal band undifferentiated; basal area slightly darker in some specimens; basal line black, double, convex between veins; antemedial line black, double, convex between veins, extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin, in some specimens coming near to medial line; claviform spot dark brown edged by a black line; orbicular spot from circular to slightly oval, grayish, with an external light brown band and black edged; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, distal margin with no streak; discal cell concolorous with ground color, with a black streak of variable width joining both spots; medial line on lighter specimens as a dark thick waved band; postmedial line black, double, concave between veins, in some specimens as a single line; subterminal line light brown, strongly concave between veins, undifferentiated in some specimens; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe lighter than ground color with slightly darker medial line only differentiated in some specimens. Hind wing iridescent, with light brown veins on light specimens and diffuse dark brown with iridescent base in darker specimens; fringe light brown with slightly darker medial line only differentiated in some specimens. Abdomen. Concolorous with forewing ground color. Genitalia (Fig. 61). Uncus slightly curved, narrowed toward apex. Clavus slightly sclerotized, cylindrical, 2–4 × as long as wide. Ampulla 1/5 × as long as valve, basal 1/3 expanded, then narrowed to half its widest diameter. Vesica (Fig. 78) 10 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of three wide loops, right basal diverticulum subcylindrical of variable length, in some specimens almost undifferentiated, basal spined band present, vesica gradually swollen on apical 1/5, in some specimens it triplicates minor diameter. Female (Figs 40, 41). Differences from male. Forewing length: 13–16.7 mm; antenna filiform. Generally darker than males with hind wings diffuse dark brown, but there are specimens as light as males with iridescent hind wing. Genitalia (Fig. 91). Posterior apophysis 1.2 × as long as anterior apophysis; ductus bursae 3 × as long as anterior apophysis; corpus bursae 9 × as long as anterior apophysis, signum absent, apex subtriangular; appendix bursae 5–6 × as long as corpus bursae, consisting of three wide loops, apex globose; ductus seminalis originating laterally near corpus bursae apex.

Distribution. In Argentina from North of Mendoza to Chubut and Chile from V to XII Regions (Fig. 109).

Biology. Weigert & Angulo (1977) describe the egg and give an identification key. Alcázar et al. (2004) give a diagnosis for each stage. In both works this species is treated as A. hispidula.

Hosts. Pastrana (2004) provides a host list for the species (as A. hispidula).

Remarks. Agrotis hispidula Guenée has been misidentified with A. araucaria in several works: as Euxoa hispidula [Hampson, 1903: 289, pl. 66, fig. 3 (redescription); Draudt, 1924: 48, pl. 8, row b (diagnosis); Köhler, 1945: 80, fig. 6b (male genitalia)], or Agrotis hispidula [Weigert & Angulo, 1977: 21, figs 3, 4, 14 (egg description); Parra et al., 1986: 89, figs 35, 77–79 (redescription); Velasquez Medina, 1990: 30, figs 15, 21–23 (redescription); Angulo, 1994: 56, 60, 61, fig. 10 (female genitalia); Artigas, 1994: 565, pl. 27, fig. 6 (diagnosis, life cycle, biological control, damages, hosts, economic importance, distribution, and international implications); Alcázar et al., 2004: 60–65, fig. 14 (hosts and life cycle); Pastrana, 2004: 156 (hosts); Angulo & Olivares, 2005: 137 (redescription)]. In A. hispidula forewing orbicular and reniform spots and fringe are lighter than ground color. Comparing dissections of several specimens in the IADIZA collection and comparing with the type image of A. hispidula, I determined that the correct generic association for this species is Feltia hispidula new combination. Pastrana (2004) makes a bibliographic compilation of host species for Argentinean Lepidoptera. Pastrana (op. cit) takes all data of A. hispidula from Köhler’s publications, cited as “Dirección de Sanidad Vegetal, Informe Mensual, Enero 1941 y Febrero 1941 ” [Vegetable Sanity Directorate, Monthly Report, January 1941 and February 1941]. Köhler used to misidentify A. araucaria with Agrotis hispidula. For this reason, I believe the host information given in Pastrana (2004) is referred to A. araucaria and not to A. hispidula.

Material examined. (189 ♂, 155 ♀). ARGENTINA. Catamarca. Hualfín, ♀ 3-I-1949 (Pierrotti) (IMLA). Chubut. 3 km N Trevelin, ♂ 28-I-1987 (C.M & O.S. Flint, Jr.) (USNM); Esquel, 4 ♂ 8-II-1960 (IMLA), ♂ (Köhler) (IMLA); Futalaufquen, 550m, 2 ♀ 15-II-1982 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Gualjaina, 550m, 3 ♂ 19-XII-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 12-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); La Máquina-C. R., 240m, ♀ 4-IV-1970 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Los Cipreses, 650m, 14 ♂ 14 ♀ 13-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA). Mendoza. Pismata, 2 ♀ 19-X-1966 (IMLA); Puente del Inca, 2750m, ♂ 29-III-1979 (Misión Científica Danesa) (ZCM); Tambillos, 2000m, 3 ♀ (IMLA), ♂ 2 ♀ I-1966 (IMLA), 2 ♀ II-1966 (IMLA). Misiones. Iguazú, ♂ 30-I-13-III-1945 (Hayward, Willink y Goldbach) (IMLA). Neuquén. Achicó, 2 ♂ 22-X-1958 (M. Gentili) (IMLA); Aeropuerto Chapelco, 780m, ♀ 3-IV-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Aluminé-Aucapa, 750m, ♂ 21-I-1972 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Arroyito, 325m, ♀ 16-III-1973 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Bajada Marucho, 870m, 3 ♀ 24-III-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 14 ♂ 9 ♀ 27-X-1981 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Carrincura, 720m, ♀ 18-I-1957 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco, 3 ♂ 3 ♀ 17-XI-1965 (IMLA), ♂ ♀ 27-II-1971 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 20-III-1973 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco, Lenga, 1650m, 2 ♀ 1-III-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco, Portezuelo Trahunco, 1750m, ♂ 12-II-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 3 ♀ 13-II-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Chapelco, Techos, 1400m, 3 ♀ 25-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 3 ♀ 22-IV-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Collón Curá, 623m, ♂ 13-I-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Confluencia, ♂ ♀ 5-II-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Confluencia Traful, 690m, ♂ 4-III-1975 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ ♀ 6-IV-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 17-X-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 17-II-1982 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Cordón Chapelco, Lago La Kika, 1750m, ♂ 24-I-1979 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Covunco, ♂ XII-1963 (IADIZA); Covunco – Usina, ♂ 29-X-1962 (M. Gentili) (IMLA); Currhue Escorial, 950m, 2 ♂ 1-III-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Cuyín Manzano, 750m, ♂ ♀ 5-III-1975 (M. Gentili) (IMLA); Dique Piedra del Águila, 730m, ♀ 22-XI-1990 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Huayilon, ♂ 8-I-1965 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Aluminé, 1100m, ♀ 18-II-1968 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Lacar, Nonthue, 650m, 2 ♂ 19-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 4 ♂ 26-I-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), 3 ♂ ♀ 22-II-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 4-III-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 9-III-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Lacar, Trompul, 1000m, ♀ 8-IV-1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Rucachoroi, 1300m, 2 ♀ 1-III-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Tromen, Rodeo Grande, 900m, ♂ 12-III-1979 (Misión Científica Danesa) (ZMC); Lago Villarino, 900m, ♀ 5-III-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Laguna Blanca, 1127m, ♂ 21-XII-1959 (IADIZA); Laguna Blanca, 1270m, 2 ♀ 20-XII-1965 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 18-II-1974 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 4 ♀ 25-III-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Las Coloradas-Antena, 1000m, ♂ 17-II-1988 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Loncopué, 1000m, 3 ♂ 5-XI-1959 (IMLA), 5 ♂ 14-XI-1959 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Mallín Largo, 800m, ♀ 9-XI-1972 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Moquehue, 1200m, ♀ 28-II-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Nacientes Río Litrán, 1500m, ♂ 27-XII-1969 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Pampa Puttkamer, 975m, ♂ ♀ 2-I-1969 (M. y P. Gentili) (USNM), ♂ 14-II- 1988 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 2-I-1989 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); Paso Córdoba, 1200–1300m, 13 ♂ 23 ♀ 12-III-1982 (M. y P. Gentili) (USNM); Piedra del Águila, 525m, ♀ 5-XI-1966 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 18-XII- 1978 (Misión Científica Danesa) (IADIZA); Pilmaute, 1200m, ♂ 25-XI-1964 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 12-V- 1964 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Primero Pinos-Haichol, 1500m, ♂ 20-III-1974 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Pucará, 630m, ♂ 19-I-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Quemquemtreu, Cañada del Camino, 850m, ♂ 4 ♀ 2-II-1979 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Quilahuintos, 1100m, ♀ 4-IV-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Quilquihue, 750m, ♀ 28-III-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Río Aluminé, 5 km S Pilolil, 700m, 4 ♂ 2-II-1987 (C.M & O.S. Flint, Jr.) (USNM); Río Aluminé, Pulmarí, 925m, ♂ 27-II-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Río Litrán, 9 km N. Lago Aluminé, 1200m, ♂ 3-II- 1987 (C.M & O.S. Flint, Jr.) (USNM); San Martín de los Andes, ♀ III-1950 (L. Schajovskoy) (IMLA), ♀ 28-I- 1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 22-II-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 1-III-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 18- XII-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 3 ♂ 30-XI-1958 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♀ 30-I-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ ♀ 10-II-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 2 ♀ 31-I-1959 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 3-XII-1959 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 3-I-1960 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 7-III-1960 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 30-XII-1960 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ ♀ 15-IV-1961 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 5-II-1962 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 30-I-1963 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 15-II-1963 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♂ 25-IV-1963 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♂ 2-II-1968 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 30-IV-1978 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), 2 ♀ 20-III-1981 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA), ♀ 20-IV- 1983 (M. y P. Gentili) (IADIZA); San Martín de los Andes - Parque Nacional Lanin, 3 ♀ III-1951 (L. Schajovskoy) (IMLA); Zapala, los Catutos, 1048m, ♀ 17-X-1966 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA). Neuquén-Río Negro. Paso Limay, ♀ 21-X-1958 (M. Gentili) (IMLA). Río Negro. Choele Choel, 3 ♂ 3 ♀ 21–24-XI-1946 (Hayward y Willink) (IMLA); Cipolletti, El Cuy, 2 ♂ 13-XI-1965 (IMLA). Santa Cruz. Cancha Carrera, 240m, ♂ 25-I-1976 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); El Turbio, 200m, ♂ ♀ 20-I-1976 (M. Gentili) (IADIZA); Lago Argentino, Península Magallanes, ♂ 10- I-1979 (Misión Científica Danesa) (ZMC). CHILE. Los Maitenes, ♂ 2-III-1964 (L.E. Peña) (CNC); Río Blanco, 3 ♂ 10-III-1969 (USNM). Metropolitan region. Rio Colorado, ca. 40 km SE Santiago, 1100m, ♀ 29–31-X-1981 (D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) (USNM); Santiago, El Alfalfal, 3 ♂ 29-II-1968 (Flint & Peña) (USNM); Santiago, nr. Pta. Yeso, ca. 70 km SE Santiago, 1250m, 2 ♂ 4 ♀ 27–28-X-1981 (D. & M. Davis) (USNM). Region V, Valparaíso. Aconcagua, Cuesta el Melón, ca. 8 km N La Calera, 500m, ♀ 2–3-XI-1981 (Don & M. Davis) (USNM); Aconcagua, Los Molles, ca. 10 km S. Pichidangui, 25m, ♀ 15–17-XI-1981 (D. & M. Davis) (USNM); Aconcagua, Portillo, ♂ 2 ♀ 12-II-1994 (G. & M. Wood) (CNC). Region VI, O'Higgins. Los Cipreses, 1000m, ♂ 14-I-1968 (L.E. Peña) (CNC). Region VII, Maule. Linares, Puente Malcho, 600 meters near Longavi River, 4 ♂ 4 ♀ 13–15-I- 1979 (D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) (USNM); Linares, Tranque de Bullileo, 800m, ♀ 10–12-I-1979,(D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) (USNM); Talca, Alto Vilches, 5 ♂ ♀ 29–31-X-1969 (O. S. Flint, Jr) (USNM). Region VIII, Bio Bio. Bio Bio, ca. 4 km N Salto de Laja, 200m, ♂ 12-I-1982 (D.R. Davis) (USNM); Ñuble, Alto Tregualemu, ca. 20 km SE Chovellen, 500m, ♂ 26–27-I-1979 (D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) (USNM). Region IX, Araucanía. Fundo el Coigue, 27 km NE Villarrica, 500m, 20 ♂ 2 ♀ 28-II al 3-III-1979 (D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) (USNM); Malleco, Cord. de las Raices, 40 km E Curacautín, 1650m, 4 ♂ 5–6-II-1979 (D.M. Davis & B. Akebergs) (USNM); Malleco, Curacautín, Termas de Manzanar, 700m, 2 ♂ ♀ 19-III-1979 (Misión Científica Danesa) (ZMC); Malleco, Rio Manzanares, ♂ 19-X-1969 (Flint & Barria) (USNM); Malleco, Curacautín, Rio Blanco, 1100m, ♂ II-1964 (L.E. Peña) (CNC); Temuco, ♂ 27-II-1922 (D.S. Bullock) (USNM). Region XII, Magallanes y Antártica Chilena. Punta Arenas, ♀ XII-1893 (V. Izquerdo) (CNC).