Perimede eremos Hodges

Perimede eremos

A small, dark, gray-black species. Head shining off-white; outer surface of second segment of labial palpus (except apex), a series of scales along dorsal and anterior margins of eyes, and antenna dark gray. Thorax with dark gray tegula, pro- and mesonota medium gray, metanotum pale gray. Forewing mottled dark gray; with four black spots, one on fold at two-fifths length of wing, one at middle of wing, one at end of cell, and one at apex of wing, first two followed by gray-white scales, last two preceded by gray-white scales; a white spot on costal margin and one on dorsal margin of wing at three-fourths length of wing. Hind wing slightly paler than forewing. Proleg: coxa mottled pale and medium gray, appearing light; femur and tibia dark gray, apex of epiphysis and tibia off-white; a dark gray saddle on first, second, and fourth tarsal segments, all of third segment dark gray, remaining elements off-white. Midleg: mainly off-white to white; coxa and femur speckled with medium gray; basal three-fifths of tibia dark gray dorsally, a few medium gray scales on distal two-fifths and on spurs, tarsus with a few scattered gray scales. Hind leg: coxa and femur white with a few dark gray—almost black— scales, these more numerous at base and apex of femur; tibia medium gray, a few white scales at base of middle tibial spurs, apex and spurs white; tarsus darker than tibia, base and apex of first four and all of fifth segment white. Abdomen: tergum medium gray, apices of segments slightly paler, apex of sixth tergite off-white; sternum mottled off-white and gray, mainly off-white. Alar expanse: 7–8 mm. Male genitalia: no specimens available. Female genitalia: as in Figures 40 and 42 (RWH slide 4086). Ostium bursae from middle to near caudal margin of seventh sternite, irregularly round to subquadrate; lamella antevaginalis a narrow, heavily sclerotized band; ductus bursae slender, lightly sclerotized; corpus bursae membranous, signa a pair of inwardly pointing spurs, bases on wall of corpus bursae lightly and evenly sclerotized; anterolateral margins of seventh sternite lightly sclerotized; extending around sides as a pair of flaps.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

HOLOTYPE.—Female, Devil’s Den State Park, Washington County, Arkansas, 27 June 1966, R. W. Hodges (RWH slide 4086). USNM Type 69788. Paratype: One ♀, same locality as for holotype, 17 June 1966 [USNM].

Consistent characters to separate eremos from other species of Perimede are the symmetrical female genitalia with the ostium bursae being roughly quadrilateral and the signa being simple, stout projections.