Proterodesma turbotti
{{Short description|Species of moth}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Proterodesma turbotti AMNZ21982-a.jpg
| image_caption = Dorsal view of male holotype specimen
| image2 = Proterodesma_turbotti_AMNZ21982-b.jpg
| image2_caption = Ventral view of male holotype specimen
| taxon = Proterodesma turbotti
| authority = (Salmon & Bradley, 1956)
| status =
| status_system =
| status_ref =
| synonyms =
{{Specieslist
|Antipodesma turbottii|Salmon & Bradley, 1956
}}
}}
Proterodesma turbotti is a species of moth in the family Tineidae.{{Cite Q|Q45922947|page=464}} It was described by John Salmon & John David Bradley in 1956.{{Cite Q|Q107609082}}{{cite journal|last1=Dugdale|first1=J. S.|title=Lepidoptera – annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa|journal=Fauna of New Zealand|date=1988|volume=14|page=63|url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf|access-date=15 February 2018|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101744/https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/26324/FNZ14Dugdale1988.pdf|url-status=dead}} This species is endemic to New Zealand,{{cite web|title=Proterodesma turbotti (Salmon & Bradley, 1956)|url=http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/dca41bae-3c8b-45bf-a994-314076933c26|website=www.nzor.org.nz|publisher=Landcare Research New Zealand|access-date=15 February 2018}} found in the Antipodes Islands and Bounty Islands of the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands.
Taxonomy
The species was identified by Salmon & Bradley in 1956, who named the species Antipodesma turbottii, placing it in a novel genus. The species was named in honour of the director of Auckland Institute and Museum, Graham Turbott,{{Cite q|Q58628992}} who collected the holotype and paratype specimens from the Antipodes Islands and the Bounty Islands in 1950.{{cite web|url=https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_naturalsciences-object-181925 |title=Proterodesma turbotti |website=Auckland War Memorial Museum |access-date=25 August 2024}} In 1971, John S. Dugdale synonymised the genus with Proterodesma due to larvae and genitalia similarities.{{cite Q|Q64006453}}
Description
The forewings of Proterodesma turbotti measure {{cvt|12|mm}}. The insect varies in colour from creamy-white to almost black, often varying in colour based on habitat.{{cite Q|Q54583729}} Females tend to be larger than males. The species can be differentiated from other Proterodesma by differences in genitalia.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to New Zealand, found in the Antipodes Islands and Bounty Islands. The species lives in dead vegetation, and can commonly be found on coastal rock faces and in upland grassland.
References
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Category:Moths described in 1956
Category:Endemic fauna of New Zealand