Prothysana terminalis
species of insect
Prothysana terminalis is a moth in the family Apatelodidae whose larvae are known as shag-carpet caterpillars. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. It is found in South America.
Taxonomy
Vitor Osmar Becker included Compsa saturata and Mimallo trilunula as synonyms of Prothysana terminalis in 2001, but excluded Prothysana felderi from this synonymy, retaining it as a separate species. As of Kitching 2018, genus Prothysana is placed in family Apatelodidae.
Biology
Recorded food plants for the two species of Prothysana (which cannot be distinguished from one another) include Philodendron, Heliconia, Welfia georgii, Chamaedora tepejilote, Piptocarpha poeppigiana, Pentaclethra macroloba, Stigmaphyllon lindinianum, Piper colonense, Piper hispidum, Piper auretum, Piper peltata, Neea psychotroides, Lycianthes synanthera, Heliocarpus appendiculatus, Miriocarpa longipes and Aegifila falcata.
The public source identifies “Prothysana terminalis” as species of insect. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Prothysana, terminalis and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Prothysana terminalis”, the useful work is to connect “species of insect” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 21, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q13477695. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1855, 2001 and 2018.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Prothysana terminalis”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Prothysana terminalis primary sources, Prothysana terminalis archive and Prothysana research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Prothysana terminalis”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Prothysana terminalis” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.