Proterodesma turbotti
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Proterodesma turbotti is a species of moth in the family Tineidae.[2] It was described by John Salmon & John David Bradley in 1956.[3][4] This species is endemic to New Zealand,[1] found in the Antipodes Islands and Bounty Islands of the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands.
| Proterodesma turbotti | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dorsal view of male holotype specimen | |
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| Ventral view of male holotype specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Tineidae |
| Genus: | Proterodesma |
| Species: | P. turbotti |
| Binomial name | |
| Proterodesma turbotti | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
The species was identified by Salmon & Bradley in 1956, who named the species Antipodesma turbottii, placing it in a novel genus.[3] The species was named in honour of the director of Auckland Institute and Museum, Graham Turbott,[5] who collected the holotype and paratype specimens from the Antipodes Islands and the Bounty Islands in 1950.[3][6] In 1971, John S. Dugdale synonymised the genus with Proterodesma due to larvae and genitalia similarities.[7]
Description
The forewings of Proterodesma turbotti measure 12 mm (0.47 in).[3] The insect varies in colour from creamy-white to almost black,[7] often varying in colour based on habitat.[8] Females tend to be larger than males.[8] The species can be differentiated from other Proterodesma by differences in genitalia.[7]
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to New Zealand,[1] found in the Antipodes Islands and Bounty Islands.[8][7] The species lives in dead vegetation,[7] and can commonly be found on coastal rock faces and in upland grassland.[8]