Protorthodes antennata Barnes & McDunnough 1912

Protorthodes antennata is a moth in the family Noctuidae first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1912. It has a small distribution in North America, extending from central Arizona to northernmost Mexico.

The length of the forewings is 10–14 mm. The reniform spot on the forewings is not outlined like in other Protorthodes species. There is a series of tiny white dots that partially define the reniform spot, and a series of tiny yellow dots that form a partial outer border of the spot. Adults have been recorded on wing from mid-May to mid-June and in October.

Males of Protorthodes antennata can easily be identified by the very long pectinations of the antennae, which gives them a feathery appearance. The other diagnostic feature, which applies to females as well, is the form of the reniform spot. In Protorthodes antennata the reniform spot is not outlined like in other species of Protorthodes; there is a series of tiny white dots that partially define the reniform spot, and a series of tiny yellow dots that form a partial outer border of the spot. Forewing length varies from 10 to 14 mm with females tending to be larger than males. The male genitalia are characterized by the short, broad, apically-truncated digitus, and the very narrow, posteriorly tapered juxta. The apex of the aedeagus has a double field of flattened scale-like sclerites that create a lizard-skin appearance. In the female genitalia, the ductus bursae is inflated mesially and covered with minute sclerotized spicules; the ductus is mainly membranous except for a narrow sclerotized “collar” at the posterior end.

Syntypes 4 ♂, 3 ♀, USNM, examined. Type locality: Arizona, Redington.