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The extent of this tribe is unclear. The definition in Forbes (1948)
relates to two New World genera, Heliomata Grote & Robinson and Protitame
McDunnough, that probably belong to the Cassymini (see
Cassymiini). Therefore,
the definition here will be in terms of peculiarities of the type genus and its
possession or not of more general ennomine features in relation to other tribes,
particularly those that have a cleft or divided valve in the male genitalia:
Eutoeini, Macariini and Cassymini. Warren (1893) may have been the first to use
the family-group name, Abraxinae.
The chaetosemata are of the standard ennomine type; these are modified
in Eutoeini and Macariini. The male antennae are ciliate in Abraxas, but
can be bipectinate or ciliate in the other three groups. The forewing is without
a fovea; this is present in at least some members of the other three groups. All
four groups have a setal comb on the third abdominal sternite of the male and
lack socii in the genitalia. The gnathus is weak to absent in Abraxas as
in the Eutoeini, but strong in Macariini and some Cassymini. Strong coremata
associated with the valve bases are lacking in all except Cassymini. The signum
is typical of the Ennominae.
Potentially apomorphic features for the tribe may be found in the very
small tympanic cavi (large in the other groups; see also Cook & Scoble
(1992)) and the facies, particularly the yellowish thorax and abdomen (and often
wing bases) bearing a complex array of dark maculae, contrasting with the white
ground colour of the wings. The maculate yellowish abdomen is seen in some
Boarmiini taxa with similar wing facies such as Dilophodes Warren, but
the maculae are not in homologous positions.
Genera with similar facies such as Heterabraxas Warren, Neolythria
Alpheraky, Pseudabraxas Inoue, and Vindusara Moore are
probably not related except for Neolythria which has similar valve
structure and ciliate male antennae and perhaps Pseudabraxas where the
valve structure is similar, but the forewing has a fovea in the male. Inclusion
of the Palaearctic Ligdia Guenée may also be valid (D. Stüning, pers.
comm.).
The tribe is therefore best defined by the valve structure, with the
dorsal (costal) process digitate and the ventral portion very large, rounded, or
triangular, with ornamentation often on both dorsal and ventral margins, in
conjunction with a weak or absent gnathus, lack of coremata and normal
chaetosemata.
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