42 
AGROTIS. By Dr. A. Corti. 
rjaboivi. 
rasilis. 
claiicla. 
expugnata. 
Underside glossy, impure white peppered with brownish. Discoidal spot indicated on both wings, both wings 
have a marginal line of small dark lunules. Spain, Santander. 
M. rjabowi Kozh. (5 e G). According to Ko zhantschiko v closest to hilaris Frr. and belongs to Meseuxoa 
according to an illustration of the d genitalia. Antennae of d ciliated and faintly serrate. Entire ground 
colouration is grey, markings on wings very distinct, all lines outlined by whitish. Transverse lines I and II are 
undulate, the latter very pronounced with a concave arc at its lower extremity. Orbicular and reniform stigmata 
whitish grey, claviform stigma darker, all with black surrounds and the former conjoined by a white streak. 
The third transverse line as usual, faintly dentate. Subterminal line white with black cuneiform streaks. 
Terminal line black, fringes pale grey intersected by black. Hindwings paler at base, lunar mark prominent, 
fringes white. Underside grey, lunar spot crescent shaped. Expanse 33 — 35 mm (according to Kozhaxtschi- 
kov). Occurs at end of August at Daghestan, Kurush Mountains. 
M. rasilis sp. n. (5e d Type). Antennae of d finely serrate and ciliated. A small and insignificant 
species. Forewings almost monotonous pale reddish grey. Occasionally a distinct basal streak. Inner transverse 
line barely visible, the outer one frequently distinct and dentate. Orbicular and reniform stigmata almost 
extinct, whitish with faint dark surrounds. Subterminal line scarcely indicated by whitish streaks. Marginal 
line consists of indistinct lunules. Fringes yellowish. Hindwings uniform grey, somewhat paler than forewings, 
rather darker towards margin, usually with angulated discoidal spot. Fringes yellowish. Underside monotonous 
grey-white, discoidal spots on all wings, more or less distinct. Wing expanse 28 mm. Aksu, June. 
M. clauda Pglr. (Vol. 3, p. 29, pi. 6 c). The illustration in the main Volume is quite good, but inclined to 
be too dark, it should be paler mouse-grey and the transverse lines are less prominent. Antennae of E serrate 
and ciliated. In some specimens the transverse lines are almost extinct, so that same appear unicoloured mouse- 
grey. Hindwings more inclined to be grey than white. Underside almost uniform silvery grey-white, hindwings 
paler. Wing expanse 20—30 mm. Asia Minor and Turkestan. 
M. expugnata sip. n. (5 e G type). I am classifying this species temporarily here in spite of the different 
structure of the A genitalia. Antennae of serrate and ciliated. No pronounced crater. Fore tibiae with not 
very significant spurs. In colour and appearance like clauda Pglr., but larger 33—35 mm. Fore wings uniform 
ashy grey, somewhat suffused with brownish, marginal area rather darker. Basal line, claviform stigma and 
transverse lines are absent, only indicated by traces. Orbicular and reniform stigmata rarely discernible, then 
somewhat whitish with slightly darker surrounds. Median nervure sometimes faintly prominent with whitish. 
Small dark lunules at margin. Fringes brownish with a fine yellowish marginal line. Hindwings somewhat 
paler, dusky at margin. Fringes pure white. A distinct discoidal spot is present. Underside glossy brownish 
white, hindwings almost white. Central area of forewings dusky, marginal area much paler. Hindwings with 
prominent discoidal spot. Both wings with distinct marginal line consisting of dark lunules. Abdomen with 
yellowish red anal tuft. Aksu, Altyn-tag. 
21. Genus: Agrotis 0 . (Feltia Wkr.) 
In outer characteristics almost identical with the Genus Euxoa. The protuberance on frons begins to 
assume various shapes. In one case it forms a regular crater, in another merely rough irregular protrusions 
and then again there is merely a more or less deep vertical groove or rill. In certain species, for instance 
ypsilon Pott., the frons is usually smooth, but specimens occur with a more or less pronounced, coarse protuber¬ 
ance. However the considerable and constant difference in the d genitalia is very characteristic. Whilst in 
Euxoa and the sub-genus Meseuxoa there is always a distinct bifurcated clasper, in Agrotis (Feltia ) there is 
always only a single prong. Corona as in the Genus Euxoa. 
In his Cat. Lep. Phal. IV 1903 Hampson only classified two palaearctic species in this Genus, honesta 
Stgr. and exclamation,is L. He must have allowed himself to be misled by outer characteristics and cannot have 
studied the genitalia sufficiently, because a great number of the species which he classified as Euxoa, are Agrotis 
(Feltia ) as will be seen from the large number of the species following here. 
The biology of the species of the Genus Agrotis has already been thoroughly studied, chiefly because the 
larvae are partly pests to agriculture. The eggs are almost without ridges, occasionally weakly ridged. Generally 
they are laid loose or in clusters on or in the earth. An inclination of the Genus towards more recent Genera 
seems to be indicated by the fact that an american species ( Feltia subgoth,ica Hw.) which occurs in North America 
as a pest, does not deposit its ova on or in the earth, but in the flowerheads of Helianthis tuberosa and the 
young larvae feed therein for a period. The larvae are as a rule typical subterranean larvae, like those of the 
Genus Euxoa and outwardly very similar to same. However various species already show a tendency to leave 
the earth and exist above the surface. 
