Agrotis experta Walker 1869

Agrotis experta (Walker, 1869)

(Figs 28, 29, 56, 74, 87, 104)

Laphygma experta Walker, 1869: 30. Holotype: ♂ Peru (BMNH). Image examined.

Laphygma innotabilis Walker, 1869: 31; Hampson, 1903: 356 (new synonym); Poole, 1989: 50. Holotype: ♂ Peru (BMNH). Image examined.

Feltia experta (Walker): Hampson, 1903: 356, pl. 68 fig. 18; Draudt, 1924: 55; Artigas, 1994: 582 –583 (diagnosis, life cycle, biological control, damages, hosts, economic importance, distribution, and international implications).

Chorizagrotis benefida Draudt, 1924: 51, pl.13 row e. New synonym. Type /s: Ecuador, Rio Bamba. Type /s not found.

Agrotis experta (Walker): Forbes, 1933: 20; Poole, 1989: 48 (world noctuid checklist); Angulo & Olivares, 2002: 6; Angulo & Olivares, 2005: 130 (diagnosis, male genitalia).

Scotia experta (Walker): Köhler, 1967: 303, figs 37, 38 (new combination).

Agrotis benefida (Draudt): Poole, 1989: 44 (new combination).

Diagnosis. Agrotis experta differs from other South American species of Agrotis by the following combination of characters: 1) forewing subcostal band and basal area undifferentiated; 2) discal cell concolorous with forewing ground color; 3) subterminal line not extended basally; 4) in male genitalia clavus subquadrate; 5) vesica 12 × as long as aedeagus; 6) in female genitalia corpus bursae 5 × as long as anterior apophysis; and 7) appendix bursae 12 × as long as corpus bursae.

Redescription. Male (Fig. 28). Head. Palpus whitish ventrally; frons central projection with raised edge of rough surface, projected anteriorly into a faint point. Antenna basal half biserrate, widest at 1/5 its length, gradually tapering to apex, with apical half filiform, widest segment 2 × as wide as central shaft, anterior process slightly wider than posterior process. Thorax. Patagium slightly darker than thorax, with black medial line, in some specimens dorsal half lighter than ventral half; tegulum with black diffuse basal and marginal lines. Forewing length 15.8–17.6 mm; ground color light grayish brown to grayish brown; subcostal band and basal area undifferentiated; basal line black, double, convex between veins; antemedial line black, double, convex between veins, strongly extended as a sharp tooth between 1A+2A vein and posterior margin, coming near to wing center; claviform spot dark brown; orbicular spot oval, extending toward reniform spot, contiguous in some specimens, concolorous with ground color, black edged with grayish center; reniform spot concolorous with orbicular spot, with no streaks; discal cell concolorous with ground color; medial line undifferentiated; postmedial line black, double, concave between veins; subterminal line light brown and black edged, concave between veins; terminal line a series of darkish lunulae between veins; fringe light brown with brown medial line. Hind wing iridescent; fringe iridescent. Abdomen. Light brown. Genitalia (Fig. 56). Uncus sinuous. Clavus subquadrate, as long as wide. Ampulla 1/5 × as long as valve, basal 1/3 expanded, then narrowed to half its widest diameter; saccus subtriangular. Vesica (Fig. 74) 12 × as long as aedeagus, consisting of five wide loops, right basal diverticulum subtriangular. Female (Fig. 29). Differences from male. Forewing length: 14.8–18.7 mm; antenna filiform; forewing ground color darker than male. Genitalia (Fig. 87). Posterior apophysis less than 1.5 × as long as anterior apophysis; ductus bursae 3 × as long as anterior apophysis; corpus bursae 5 × as long as anterior apophysis, signum absent, apex subtriangular; appendix bursae 12 × as long as corpus bursae, consisting of five wide loops, apex globose; ductus seminalis originating at corpus bursae apex.

Biology. Artigas (1994) gives a short diagnosis and mentions that it takes from five to eight weeks to complete the life cycle.

Hosts. Economically important hosts include: chard, sesame, alfalfa, cotton, beans, potatoes, tobacco, and tomato (Artigas 1994).

Remarks. Either in males or females forewing pattern can be very diffuse, in some specimens with only reniform spot differentiated and orbicular spot and a single postmedial line slightly distinguished.

The description and drawing of the adult of Chorizagrotis benefida (Draudt 1924) corresponds to light specimens of Agrotis experta.

Distribution. Peru, Ecuador, and northern Chile (Fig. 104).

Material examined. (13 ♂, 13 ♀). 3 ♀ (USNM), ♂ (Raven) (IMLA). CHILE: Tarapacá. Iquique, ♀ VIII-1987 (Crockwell) (USNM). PERU: ♂ 9-II-1999 (USNM), ♂ (USNM). Lima. Cañete, ♂ 25-I-1941 (E.J. Hambleton) (USNM); Huaral, ♂ (USNM); Lima, ♂ 2 ♀ 19-II-1923 (D.S. Bullock) (USNM), ♂ 10-XI-1963 (Raven) (IMLA), 2 ♂ 01-VII-1964 (Raven) (IMLA), ♀ 10-VII-1964 (Raven) (IMLA), ♀ 18-VII-1964 (Raven) (IMLA), ♂ 15-XI-1964 (Raven) (IMLA); Tupe, 2 ♂ 2-XI-1926 (H.T. Tomms) (USNM). La Libertad. Trujillo, ♂ 5 ♀ (USNM).