Protorthodes argentoppida McDunnough, 1943

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 : 146-147

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Protorthodes argentoppida McDunnough, 1943 Figs 17, 18, 58, 76; Map 4

Protorthodes argentoppida McDunnough, 1943: 52.

Type material.

Protorthodes argentoppida : holotype ♂ CNC, examined. Type locality: USA, New Mexico, Silver City.

Diagnosis.

The name of this species is derived from the silvery-gray ground color of the forewing. This, in combination with the prominent black basal dash on the forewing and the white somewhat translucent hindwing, make this the easiest species of Protorthodes to identify. In some males there is a narrow black terminal line and broken postmedial line on the hindwing and in the female the hindwing has a pale smoky tint to the white color. Forewing length varies from 13 to 16 mm. The male antenna is biserrate, unlike other species in this group, with the maximum with of the antenna being 1.9-2.1 × as wide as the central shaft. The male and female genitalia are similar to those of the other three species in the Protorthodes incincta group ( Protorthodes curtica , Protorthodes eureka , Protorthodes incincta ), surprising, because of the divergent external appearance of the moth. However, the cucullus is smaller, the two digiti apically truncated and more symmetrical, the subbasal diverticula in the vesica are smaller, and the basal cornutus larger than in the other three species in the group.

Distribution and biology.

Protorthodes argentoppida has a very limited range, occurring in xeric forested areas of various mountain ranges in New Mexico and in the White Mountains in east-central Arizona. Adults occur from mid-May until early July. The immature stages are unknown.