Protorthodes curtica (Smith, 1890)

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 : 145

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Protorthodes curtica (Smith, 1890) Figs 1-3, 55, 73; Map 1

Taeniocampa curtica Smith, 1890: 122.

Taeniocampa bostura Smith, 1908b: 103.

Type material.

Taeniocampa curtica : lectotype ♂, examined, AMNH. Type locality: USA, California, Sierra Nevada, designated by Todd (1982). Taeniocampa bostura : holotype ♂, examined, AMNH. Type locality: Canada, British Columbia, Kaslo.

Diagnosis.

Protorthodes curtica is the dominant species of Protorthodes in the Pacific Northwest, especially in the intermontane region between the Cascades and the Rocky Mountains. Superficially, adults usually can be identified by the dark-reddish tint on the forewing ground color, the pale, even-curved subterminal line that follows the wing margin, the even band of dark shading along the inner edge of the subterminal line, and the reniform is faintly outlined by a pale line. Forewing length varies from 12 to 16 mm. The male antenna of Protorthodes curtica is narrowly bipectinate, similar to those of Protorthodes incincta , the species with which Protorthodes curtica is most likely to be confused. The antenna of Protorthodes curtica is not as wide with the maximum width of the antenna being 2.6-2.9 × as wide as the central shaft, whereas it is 3.7-3.9 × as wide in Protorthodes incincta . The range of Protorthodes curtica is mainly to the west of the range of Protorthodes incincta . Populations of Protorthodes incincta where its range overlaps that of Protorthodes curtica usually have gray-brown or buffy-brown forewings with an irregular pale subterminal line that is margined on the inner side with dark shading that usually forms a series of larger wedges in the area distal to the reniform spot. The reniform spot of Protorthodes curtica is outlined with a dark line with a pale line inside this, and the forewing apex is not as acutely pointed as in Protorthodes curtica . The male and female genitalia of Protorthodes curtica and Protorthodes incincta are similar, but the digitus of Protorthodes curtica tends to be pointed where it projects beyond the ventral margin of the valve, whereas in Protorthodes incincta the apex of the digitus is tapered to a point.

Distribution and biology.

Protorthodes curtica occurs from the interior of southern British Columbia southward in the West Coast states, mainly to the east of the Cascades and Coastal Ranges, to southern California. It occurs in the Rocky Mountains in Idaho and Montana and in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. Adults occur from late June until mid-October, mainly in dry forested habitats. The larva was described by Crumb (1956) and Godfrey (1972).