Pull . 5 . VII . 1933 . 
AGROTIS. By Dr. A. Corti and Dr. M. Draudt. 
57 
the basal streak is less pronounced, the cell between the stigmata is not such a rich black-brown, stigmata 
with darker centres. Hindwings pure white with fine dark marginal line. On the same plate (Oh) there is 
an illustration, denominated as — hispanica Gorti i. 1. which seems to be a form belonging here and accord- hispanim. 
ing to the name emanating from Spain. It is brighter coloured than agrotina , especially the stigmata stand 
out more prominently from the darker ground of cell than in the similar Jcaaba. Further particulars are not 
to be found. 
C. mansoura Chret. (= synesia Trti.) (6g). The ground colour of our illustration is somewhat too mansoura. 
brownish, actually the colour should be much purer grey. Transverse lines are absent, stigmata as in the 
previous species with finely drawn dark surrounds, also the dark longitudinal streak to margin is present 
although faint; in general all markings are more delicate and indistinct, basal streak very faint, clavicular 
stigma usually longer than in our illustration. Hindwings pure white, thinly scaled. The species was origin¬ 
ally classified under Simyra, whilst Turati created a new Genus for it: Stenosoma. Widely distributed in 
N. Africa, from Algeria to Cyrenaica. 
Subgenus: Dichagyris Led. 
Frons with more or less pronounced crater, which however can frequently be present and absent in 
one and the same species. When absent frons is rough and arched; thorax scaly. Fore tibiae with fairly 
long spurs, especially at end. $ antennae scarcely or only faintly pectinated, with fascicles of cilia. 
Type: D. 7nelanura Roll. 
I. Group: Underside of wings usually with a more or less dark to black wide outer margin. 
D„ melanura Roll. (Vol. 3, p. 48, pi. 10 i). Description and illustration given suffice to classify this melanura. 
easily recognisable species. — grisescens Stgr. (= euryloma Gorti i. 1.) (7 cl as “euryloma”) is much more yellow- grisescens. 
ish brown in ground colour and has much heavier markings in median area; also hindwings are duskier. 
— stellans Gorti inecl. (= capnoloma Pglr. i. 1.) (7 d) is a similar but somewhat smaller form with purer and stellans. 
paler ground colour than grisescens and without the dark brown irroration, with clear black-brown markings 
in median area, dark margin slightly paler; Aksu, Issyk-kul. — melanurina was originally the victim of a melanurina. 
misunderstanding, as the real melanurina, which Staudinger described, was an Aihetis from Palestine. Despite 
this, small, delicately built specimens of the genuine melanura occur in northern Syria (Taurus, Marash), 
which outwardly strongly resemble the Athetis mentioned; the slightly different wing contour, the outer 
margin in Athetis being more oblique, while the spurred tibiae enable one immediately to recognise the 
Agrotidae. The name melanurina can therefore be retained for this form. Hampson deleted “melanurina ”, 
so that Warren should be inserted as the author in Seitz. — albida Gar. (11 b) is a very beautiful, very white albida. 
form with only faintly indicated discal markings. From Balcic, Rumania, from the so-called Silver Coast. 
D. imperator A. B.-H. (7 cl). This remarkably beautiful species is described from Algeria (Biskra) and imperator. 
also from Egypt, around Helouan. The good illustration now given makes any description superfluous. The 
larva was found at the latter locality on a Zygophyllum sp. in April. The moth emerged about a month later. 
D. eremicola Stfs. (Vol. 3, p. 34, pi. 12 f). As the illustration in the Main Volume does not suffice eremicola. 
to distinguish this species, we are giving a fresh picture (7 cl). The species is somewhat greyer than squalorum, 
less peppered with black, markings somewhat more diffuse. The antennae with markedly heavier cilia. From 
Asia Minor through to West Turkestan and to the Altai, — nigrolineata Corti inecl. (7 d) is a much darker nigrolineata. 
form, especially the hindwings are duskier. 
D. squalorum Ev. (= vallesiaca Err.) (Vol. 3, p. 49, pi. 10 i, k) is probably not a form of Jcirghisa at squalorum. 
all. We are again illustrating the two sexes (7 e) as they differ considerably and the illustration in Main 
Volume was unsatisfactory. Antennae are less heavily ciliate than in eremicola. — crimaea Rozh. (7 f). Accord- crimaea. 
ing to Corti’s notes, he considered this to be a form belonging here. It is paler, markings clearer and more 
sharply defined, especially the bold subterminal sagittate marks. Hindwings white, veins marked brownish. 
Crimea. 
D. kirghisa Ev. (Vol. 3, p. 48, pi. 10 i) (11 b) is a genuine species, somewhat smaller than eremicola, kirghisa. 
with distinct markings, the inner line twice acutely angulated, the claviform stigma is conjoined by a stout 
black bar with the posterior transverse line. Behind this, especially in the upper half, long black cuneiform 
marks. Hindwings and abdomen yellowish white, the former faintly brownish at margin, in the $ quite 
brown. From S. E. Russia spreading through Asia to the Altai and southwards to Kashmir. 
D, vallesiaca Bsd. (Vol. 3, p. 55, pi. 13 b, c). The illustration is much too dark and indistinct. We are vallesiaca. 
giving a fresh picture on pi. 7 e. A rare and local species, found in the plains of the Rhone valley and scar¬ 
cely occurring above 600 m altitude. It has also been found at Lugano. It occurs between the 15th July 
and 15th August and can be taken at dusk around the flowers of Centaurea, Scabiosa and Silene inf lata. 
— inexpectata Rozh. (7 f) appears to be a form belonging hereto. In Corti’s opinion and contrary to the views inexpeda- 
of the author, it is the main form, the has just the same distinct fascicles of cilia on the antennae. Mark- 
Supplementary Volume 3 8 
