AGROTIS. By Dr. A. Corti. 
43 
This genus is also best subdivided into Sections according the formation of the antennae. 
Type: Agrotis (Feltia) segetis Hbn. (Tentamen ined.) = segetum Schiff. 
I. Section: antennae heavily pectinated to apex or almost to apex. 
A. baetica Bsd. (Vol. 3, p. 24, pi. 5 c) classified by Staudinger under cladocera Rbr. as “ Agrotis ?”. It is baetica . 
perhaps only a form of the subsequent graslini Rbr. The type is not well preserved. The illustration in the main 
Volume is not good and therefore the species is being illustrated again (5 f). It is very like graslini but more 
brightly coloured, veins of hindwings brownish. Only found on the coast of S. Spain, Cadiz. Early stages unknown. 
A. graslini Rbr. (Vol. 3, p. 36, pi. 7 i). Two varieties have been described and they do not seem to me graslini . 
justifiable. The one — v. joannisi Gl. et le P. from the coast of Morbihan. It is more yellow-brown to reddish joannisi . 
yellow than ochreous. Markings, claviform stigma etc. more prominent. The other form: — gouini J. de Joan, gouini . 
neither ochreous nor reddish yellow, but of a variable brown varying from olive-green to grey and yellow-brown. 
Further Strand has denominated as ab. rufotincta Strd. (= ab. 1 limps.) specimens in which the cell of rufotincta . 
forewings with adjoining areas is a vivid reddish. The type form and all other forms from the west coast of 
France. Ova white with faint ridges, larvae subterranean, feeding on low growing plants. It is almost colourless 
with indications of lateral lines. Pupa not described. 
A. (?) arenosa Stgr. (Vol. 3, p. 33) (5 f). According to the perfectly preserved $ type this should be arenosa . 
classified here and is a genuine species. Is not related to villa Esp. Similar to baetica Bsd., underside is 
identical with same. Also similar to graslini Rbr., wings rather more pointed, claviform stigma is much smaller 
than in graslini, costal streak of arenosa is whiter, the distinct discoidal spot on underside of forewings, which 
is almost always present in graslini, is completely absent in the type of arenosa. Thorax of graslini is more 
densely covered with scales and hairs. The illustration in Rambur, Cat. S. And. is very good, only much too 
dark. South Andalusia, Catalonia. Early stages unknown. 
A. lanzarotensis Rbl . (Vol. 3, p. 24, pi. 15 k). lanzaro - 
tensis . 
A. dirempta Stgr. (Vol. 3, p. 24). This species described from a single defective ^ Type ex coll. Stgr., direnvpta . 
has latterly been found in quantity at Algiers, in Morocco, Tunis and southern Spain. In general appearance 
dirempta can scarcely be differentiated from certain forms of crassa Hbn., but may be considered a genuine 
species on account of the fact that the pectinations of antennae extend to extremity of apex or almost so. - 
castellana Fdz. from Ciudad-Real, Spain is in my opinion = dirempta Stgr. castellana . 
II. Section: S' antennae heavily pectinated %rds of their length. 
A. ypsilosi Rott. (Vol. 3, p. 37, pi. 8 c) (= suffusa Schiff., spinula Esp., spiniferus Hw., idonea Cram., ypsilon . 
robusta Blanch., bipars Wkr., frivola Wall.gr., aureolum Schaus.). A cosmopolitan species. It also occurs in 
Labrador (coll. Corti). Varies considerably in colour and markings, for instance specimens occur with forewings 
almostly completely black from base to outer line (5 f), another specimen which is illustrated (5 f) has a wide 
pale costa from base to apex of wings. Dannehl has an aberration with darkened forewings, which lie has 
denominated as — ab. fusca. ypsilon occurs from spring till November, in many districts it hibernates. In fusca . 
some localities it is double brooded. Ova dull yellow with delicate ridges, larvae subterranean, plump, cylindrical, 
scarcely marked at all, with dark warts, pupa fuscous with 2 cremaster spines. 
A. segetis Hbn. (Vol. 3, p. 25, pi. 5 d) (= segetum Schiff., praecox Hbn., fervida Hbn., sicula Bsd., segetis . 
dimidia Zell., sicania Gn., marginalis Wkr., obliviosa Wkr., aversa Wkr., conecta Wkr., denticulosa Wllgr., 
conspurcata Wkr., repulsa Wkr., certificata Wkr., lassa Swinh.). A species that varies to an extraordinary 
extent in colour and markings and which has therefore given rise to a large number of superfluous denominations 
(compare main Volume). The form mentioned there — ab. pallida Stgr. (Vol. 3, pi. 5 d e) is no doubt the pallida . 
predominant form and subspecies of central Asia. It occurs occasionally in Europe. One name of an older 
denomination of an aberration is missing in the main Volume. — ab. anthracitica Alph. with unicoloured black 
forewings. Such specimens occur in all degrees of transition. Latterly further names have been given: — ab. 
albiptera Trti. from Cyrenaica has snow-white hindwings, —• ab. niinorata Trti. is a small form (spring generation 
from Cyrenaica, flying in May—June); — ab. pseudocos Trti. denotes a small $ resembling cos Hbn., unicoloured 
with distinct transverse bands, from Cyrenaica. — ab. unicolor Pill, denotes unicoloured specimens without 
any markings. — v. pallida-obsoleta is a name given by Dannehl for the southern race from Terlan, Bolzano, 
southern Italy with grey-yellow colouration, orbicular stigma and outer line absent, marginal spots prominent. 
Occurs in the entire palaearctic territory, in polar regions only up to 60—62° northern latitude. It is also found 
in India, South Africa, Oceania and North America. It occurs in one or two or even more generations from 
March to November according to the locality. Ova yellowish white, faintly ridged, subterranean larvae, plump, 
anthra - 
citica . 
albiptera . 
minor at a . 
pseudocos . 
unicolor , 
pallida - 
obsoleta . 
