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Perixera Meyrick Gen. rev.
Type species: prionodes Meyrick, Fiji.
Synonyms: Brachycola Warren (type species absconditaria Walker)
praeocc; Conchocometa Warren (type species sabulosa Warren); Crypsiplocia
Warren (type species pulvinaris Warren, Solomons); Emmesura Warren
(type species semicompleta Walker = illepidaria Guenée); Eremocentra
Warren (type species flavareata Warren = flavirubra Warren) Phrissosceles
Warren (type species argyromma Warren); Platisodes Warren
(type species jocosa Warren); Plocucha Warren (type species irregularis
Warren, New Guinea); Stibarostoma Warren (type species griseata Warren,
Queensland); Trirachopoda Hampson (type species subroseata Walker,
Sri Lanka); Xenoprora Warren (type species parallela Warren = samoana
Warren, S.W. Pacific archipelagos). These are probably all new synonyms,
though some may have been subordinated to Perixera prior to their
subordination to Anisodes.
The genus-group names above have all been subordinated to Anisodes in
publications (e.g. Nielsen, Edwards & Rangsi, 1996) in the latter two-thirds
of this century, following Prout's (1938, Gross-Schmett, Erde 12:
165-182) treatment. They encompass the bulk of the Indo-Australian taxa and show
great diversity of morphology. But they possess some or all of the following
features in the male that suggest they may form a natural grouping: a pair of
coremata, single or double, on the fourth sternite; coremata between the eighth
segment and the genitalia, often more closely associated with the latter; a
convolute aedeagus apex, the convolution sometimes (e.g. Phrissosceles) involving
the insertion of the ductus ejaculatorius, which tends to be central on the
aedeagus shaft; broadening of the uncus (or the dorsal part of the tegumen) such
that it is shallow, sometimes bifid, or even serrate; a broad and well developed
costal process to the valve, often bilaterally asymmetric, with the saccular
process weak or vestigial; shortening, often with associated scale tufts, of the
hind-tibia.
The wing pattern is variable, some taxa being a fairly uniform dull red,
others having more variegated wings, the fasciation usually much more delicate
than in Mesotrophe.
The female genitalia have the bursa large, rather pyriform, uniformly rugose, without any strong scobination or
signum. The bursa tapers gently into
the ductus.
The order in which the species are treated reflects the extent to which
they possess the diagnostic features listed above. Commentary on this will be
included in the taxonomic notes for the first species in each of what appear to
be natural subgroupings. A few species at the end have few or none of the Perixera
features, nor do they show affinity with any of the other genera segregated
here from the old concept of Anisodes. A more comprehensive study of the
whole complex will be necessary to ensure them a stable placement.
The pupae are typically cosymbiine, square-shouldered with an abdominal
girdle.
Host-plant records are not numerous, but involve several plant families:
Anacardiaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Leguminosae, Moraceae,
Rubiaceae (Bell, MS; Yunus & Ho, 1980; Common, 1986, 1990; unpublished IIE
records and references in the species accounts following).
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