''Protorthodes ustulata'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

in the family

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...

first described by J. Donald Lafontaine, J. Bruce Walsh and Clifford D. Ferris in 2014. It is found in North America from south-eastern

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southward to the Guadalupe Mountains in western

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and westward to central and south-eastern

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

and northern

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. The length of the forewings is 12–15 mm. The forewings are burnt orange color, tending to be darker toward the costal and outer edge. The subbasal, antemedial, postmedial and subterminal lines are whitish gray, partially bordered by dark-brown scales. The reniform spot has the shape of an eight. The upper part is gray brown and the lower part is blackish gray. It has a contrasting whitish-gray outline. The orbicular spot is slightly darker than the ground color and is outlined in whitish gray. The terminal line is dark brown. The hindwings are pale fuscous basally with darker fuscous on the discal spot, veins and marginal area. Adults have been recorded on wing from early April to mid-May and again from early August to early October.

Etymology

The species name refers to the burnt-orange color of the body and forewings and is derived from Latin ''ustulata''.; ; 2014: A revision of the genus ''Protorthodes'' McDunnough with descriptions of a new genus and four new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Eriopygini). ''

ZooKeys ''ZooKeys'' is a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal covering zoological taxonomy, phylogeny, and biogeography. It was established in 2008 and the editor-in-chief is Terry Erwin (Smithsonian Institution). It is published by Pensoft Publ ...

'', 421: 139-179.

References

Moths described in 2014 Hadeninae {{Hadeninae-stub