Protorthodes perforata (Grote, 1883)

Lafontaine, J. Donald, Walsh, J. Bruce & Ferris, Clifford D., 2014, A revision of the genus Protorthodes McDunnough with descriptions of a new genus and four new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Eriopygini), ZooKeys 421, pp. 139-179 : 151-152

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Protorthodes perforata (Grote, 1883) Figs 31, 32, 65, 82; Map 9

Taeniocampa perforata Grote, 1883: 73.

Eriopyga constans Dyar, 1918: 344, syn. n.

Type material.

Taeniocampa perforata : syntypes, USNM, examined. Type locality: Arizona. Eriopyga constans : holotype ♂, USNM, examined. Type locality: Mexico.

Diagnosis.

Protorthodes perforata can be recognized by the pale whitish gray to buffy gray color of the forewings with the reniform and orbicular spots darker gray than the ground color and each is outlined by a contrastingly pale line. Forewing length varies from 12 to 14 mm. The hindwing is dirty white with fuscous shading on the wing margins and veins in both sexes. This species is most likely to be confused with Protorthodes rufula in southern California where their ranges overlap. The forewing in Protorthodes rufula is darker and more mottled than that of Protorthodes perforata , and Protorthodes rufula usually has shades of red in the ground color. Males of Protorthodes perforata can readily be distinguished from those of Protorthodes rufula by brushing the scales away from the apices of the valves; in Protorthodes perforata the apices of the digitus on each valve are similar, barely extend beyond the ventral margins of the valve, and the apices curl to project anteroventrally. In Protorthodes rufula , by contrast, the left digitus projects posteroventrally, whereas the right digitus is much longer and projects posteriorly and extends beyond the apex of the right valve (Fig. 66). On dissection, the valves of Protorthodes perforata are very wide postmedially with both the dorsal and ventral margins rounded and convex; the ampulla of the clasper is almost straight, bending posteriorly only near the apex; the heavily-sclerotized dorsal lobe of the sacculus is much larger and more convex than in Protorthodes rufula ; and the large cornutus in the vesica is near the middle, whereas in Protorthodes rufula it is much closer to the base of the vesica; also the cornutus projects at a right angle to the axis of the vesica and parallel to the aedeagus. In the female genitalia of Protorthodes perforata the sclerotized mass of the ostium bursae covers almost the entire ductus bursae and is rounded anteriorly.

Distribution and biology.

Protorthodes perforata occurs across the southern United States from western Texas to southern California and southward to central Mexico. According to material examined, the range of Protorthodes perforata lies to the east of that of Protorthodes rufula with the westernmost records of Protorthodes perforata being from the desert areas in interior southern California. Adults were collected from early April to early July and again from mid-August to late October. The immature stages are unknown.