46 
AGROTIS. By Dr. A. Corti. 
leucoptera . denominates the $$ with white wings, which are not of very rare occurrence as — ah. leucoptera. — Danxehe 
denominates $$ which are completely monotonous brown-black in basal, central and outer areas, with sharply 
hellwegeri . marked hand markings and heavy outer lines with light edges as — ab. hellwegeri; despite the fact that there 
subalpina . are various degrees of transition forms. — ab. subalpina denotes the dark form denominated by Danxehe in 
atrata . which also the outer margin has the identical brown-black shade. — ab. atrata Schaw. denotes dark $$ specimens 
from Corsica with extreme black-brown forewings and almost extinct markings. The same author names a 
modesta . small <$ from Aragon as ab. (var. ?) modesta with forewings of uniform buff colour, markings faintly indicated, 
the transverse double lines barely visible. The proximal line very pointed at inner margin and projecting 
outwards, sagittate mark and the broad quadrate reniform stigma with very faint darker, not clearly visible, 
ochrea . surround. Hindwings white. Underside white, devoid of markings. Antennae as in crassa. — ab. ochrea Gulot 
parvi - denotes an ochreous variety of crassa. — ab. parvisignata Escaler a is a still paler form than ab. ochracea, it is 
signata . a |, nos ^ -whitish with nearly completely extinct markings. The early stages of crassa are pretty well known. Ova 
(from the Tyrol) were according to my observations large, irregular and without ridges, merely buff coloured, 
larvae typically subterranean, maggot-like, pale dorsal line and dark subdorsal, a delicate pale lateral line. 
It occurs now and then, for instance in Alsace Lorraine as a pest in vineyards. Pupa fuscous with 2 cremaster 
spines. Pupation in an earthen cocoon. It occurs throughout Europe (Russia in the south), the northernmost 
limit, according to Warnecke, would be Pommerania and Mecklenburg (occasionally, singly in Schleswig- 
Holstein), further in aberrative forms or local races in the Caucasus, Askhabad, Anatolia, Altai. Pontus, Tauria 
etc. The f. golickei occurs in Asia Minor, Armenia, Ferghana, Ala-tau, Tura etc. According to the locality it 
occurs from July to October, golickei is found in May and the autumn, in two generations. 
fulva . A. fulva Trti. (5 i) (= crassa lata fulva Trti.). In my opinion a genuine species. In its morphological 
characteristics like lata Tr. A large species, arrangement of markings like in crassa Hbn., but the forewings are 
intensively brick-red to ochreous. Hindwings pure white. Hindwings of $ very dusky. It occurs exclusively 
in sandy localities. Larvae as crassa , however not grey-white but dark rusty brown, somewhat of the same 
shade as the moth. They are inclined to come out of the eai’th or sand. It occurs in autumn and January 
(Kruger). North Africa, Bengasi, Fuath, Tobruk. 
obesa. A. obesa Bscl. (Vol. 3, p. 24, pi. 5 a). The illustration in the main Volume is not good and it is being 
repeated here (5 k $). Markings and particularly colouration are liable to strong variations. Some BS have 
almost grey forewings, others heavily suffused with red-brown and others with rose, $$ occur with almost 
black forewings and again with almost white ground colour. $$ with almost completely white hindwings as in 
crassa Him. occur. Orbicular stigma is not quadrate, large, but always much smaller than the reniform and 
claviform stigmata. It is often round, usually however longish, oval and often extended to a point. In the 
scytha. outer area there are usually sagittate marks, which are only very rarely completely absent. — scytha Alpli. 
(Vol. 3, p. 24, pi. 5 a). Also this illustration is not good, we are giving a fresh one (5 k <$)■ In the main Volume 
scytha was described by Warren as a genuine species, whilst I consider same to be a race of obesa Bsd. It is 
a much paler, less pronouncedly marked race, otherwise however with the characteristics of obesa, occurring in 
S. Russia, the Caucasus, Turkestan, Persia, Armenia, Anatolia in August and September. In the Taurus in 
fusca. August a further nice race occurs, namely — fusca nov. (5 k E cotype) which is more or less characterised by the 
lipara. darker hindwings of the E ■ Also the ground colour of the forewings is inclined as a rule to be dusky. — lipara 
Bbr. (5 k E), which is usually considered synonymous with obesa Bscl., I consider to be a clearly defined race 
of N. Africa, which is much more brightly coloured and when viewed in series makes a different impression 
nivea. from the type form. September—October. Cakadja has denominated a nice race from Rumania as — nivea 
Caradja which has pure white ground colour to forewings without a trace of yellow, with prominently distinct 
rufina. black markings. — ab. rufina E scaler a denotes a correspondingly ochreous red form from Spain, like ab. ochrea 
Culot of crassa Him. The main form occurs in Spain, Portugal, S. France, Italy. The early stages of obesa have 
yet to be thoroughly studied. Ova large, buff coloured without ridges, larvae subterranean, cylindrical, stout, 
dark brown-red with a dorsal and fine grey-black subdorsal line. Ventrically grey-green, head small, glossy 
grey-brown. The description of Millie res appears to be erroneous. Pupa brown. The larva of f. scytha, 
according to Wagner, resembles that of crassa Hbn., earthy colour with brownish wrinklings, dorsum paler, 
yellowish brown, 2 subdorsal lines. Head small, yellowish brown. Scutellum scarcely discernible. Stigmata 
jet-black. Subterraneous. Pupa brown, cremaster with 2 stout bristles. 
charade - A. characteristica Alpli . (Vol. 3, p. 26, pi. 12 f). The illustration is not good and we are illustrating 
ristica . a ^ afresh (5 1) that definitely belongs hereto. The species was described by Alpheraky from a large (50 mm) 
single $ from Ordos (China). The EE are smaller, the largest in my collection measures 38, the smallest 34 mm. 
They resemble fatidica Hbn. in the markings, forewings are grey-white or yellowish grey to brown, orbicular 
stigma small, round, sometimes oval, hindwings much paler than in normal fatidica EE- Chotan, Sarepta, 
mirifica . Kyssyl-Yart. The $ of Alpheraky was captured in September. Early stages unknown. — mirifica Wgnr. 
is, in my opinion, synonymous with characteristica Alph. Described by Wagner from a E (42 mm). Central Asia. 
