Protorthodes mexicana Lafontaine

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 : 150-151

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Protorthodes mexicana Lafontaine sp. n. Figs 30, 64; Map 8

Type material.

Holotype ♂. Mexico, Jalapa, Guadalahara, 28-30 April 1961, Howden & Martin, CNC.

Etymology.

This species is known only from Mexico, thus the species name mexicana.

Diagnosis.

Protorthodes mexicana is closely related to Protorthodes texicana . Protorthodes mexicana can be recognized by the pale whitish-buff color of the forewing, the white translucent hindwing. In the male genitalia the ventral process of the clasper assemblage is apically spatulate in Protorthodes mexicana (apically tapered in Protorthodes texicana ), and the vesica has two full coils ( 1½ in Protorthodes texicana ).

Description.

Adult male. (Female unknown). Forewing length: 12 mm. Head - Male antenna with individual segments bipectinate, 3.8 × as wide as the central shaft (anterior rami 1.9 × as wide, posterior rami 1.4 × as wide). Palpi and head clothed with spatulate apically-forked setae, pale whitish, some with pale-brown patch subapically, with whitish-buff tips. Thorax - Covered with similar scales to those of head; with slightly raised prothoracic and metathoracic tufts. Legs: Appearing speckled with mixture of whitish-buff and gray-buff. Tibiae without spiniform setae. Tarsi with three ventral rows of spiniform setae. Wings: Dorsal forewing pale whitish buff brown with dusting of pale-brown scales; subbasal, antemedial and postmedial lines very faint, indicated by paler lines bordered on each side by scattered pale-brown scales; subterminal line more distinct because of darker shading in terminal area and outer part of subterminal area adjacent to it; reniform and orbicular spots slightly darker than ground color, outlined in white; terminal area darker than remainder of forewing because of more numerous gray-brown scales; fringe similar in color to subterminal area with base of fringe whitish-buff. Dorsal hindwing white, translucent, with trace of darker scaling on veins and wing margin; fringe white with scattered pale fuscous scales. Male genitalia - Similar to those of Protorthodes texicana with following exceptions: lower process of clasper apically flattened and enlarged, spatulate (apically tapered and tear-drop shaped in Protorthodes texicana ); spine-covered dorsal process of sacculus acutely tapered to point (posterior apex blunt and rounded in Protorthodes texicana ); vesica with two coils ( 1½ coils in Protorthodes texicana ).

Distribution and biology.

The female and immature stages are unknown. The species is known only from the type locality where the holotype was collected in late April.