Perimede parilis

Perimede parilis

A small, dark, gray-black moth. Maculation: as in, Figure 6. General color pattern is much as for eremos. Head usually shining pale to medium gray; inner surface of labial palpus shining orange white, outer surface dark gray; base of tongue medium to dark gray; several half-segments on dorsal surface of antenna pale gray. Forewing with a yellowish white patch in costal scales just before apex; a few whitish scales on apical one-fifth of wing; and an incomplete “V” of whitish scales connecting white spots at three-fourths length of wing, point of “V” toward apex. Proleg: coxa gray, apex yellowish white; femur dark gray, base and apex white; tibia dark gray, area opposite epiphysis and apex white; tarsus dark gray, base and apex of first two segments, apex of fourth, and all of fifth segment white, ventral surface yellowish white to white. Midleg: coxa yellowish white with a few pale gray scales; femur medium gray, base yellowish white; tibia dark gray basally, yellowish white distally; spurs and distal half with scattered pale gray scales; tarsus mainly yellowish white, a few dark gray scales near apex of first segment, a dark gray saddle on middle of second, on distal two-thirds of third, and basal two-thirds of fourth segment. Hind leg: coxa yellowish white mottled with pale gray; femur yellowish white, dark gray (almost black at base and apex); tibia gray, apex, a transverse streak at one-half, and spurs yellowish white, spurs with dark gray scales just before apex; tarsus dark gray, base and apex of first four segments and all of fifth segment yellowish white. Alar expanse: 8–12 mm. Male genitalia: as in Figures 21–23 and 25 (RWH slides 4057, 4087). Valva angled at middle, distal half with relatively parallel costal and saccular margins, slightly expanded at apex, apex rounded; aedeagus expanded for basal two-fifths then sharply constricted, tapering gradually to acute apex, curved downward; saccus broad; lobes of uncus slender, parallel sided, apices slightly bent at one-third; lightly sclerotized lobe with setae at apex. Female genitalia: as in Figure 41 (RWH slide 4090). Ostium bursae extending from middle nearly to posterior margin of seventh sternite, opening lightbulb-shaped; lamella antevaginalis narrowly triangular; ductus bursae short, relatively broad, expanding gradually to corpus bursae; corpus bursae lightly sclerotized, walls with numerous, fine lines; signa a pair of inwardly projecting spines arising from an elliptical, sclerotized patch on wall of corpus bursae.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

HOLOTYPE.—Male, Devil’s Den State Park, Washington County, Arkansas, 10 July 1966, R. W. Hodges (RWH slide 4057). USNM Type 69787.

PARATYPES.—4 ♂ ♂, 5 ♀ ♀, same locality as for holotype, 21 June–14 July 1966 (RWH slides 4087, 4088, 4090, 4435–7, 4440–2) [University of Arkansas, USNM]. 3 ♂ ♂, 4 ♀ ♀, Putnam County, Illinois, 7 June–14 August 1961 to 1967, M. O. Glenn (MOG slides 18–20, 19168, 19368, 20068; RWH slide 4532) [MOG, USNM].

Some variation occurs in the amount of light or dark scales on the head, with individuals appearing very light to dark gray. Fresh specimens generally have the vertex darker than worn ones. Flown specimens take on a brownish cast as the overlying dark gray scales on the wings are worn away.

The combination of characters, glandular spines symmetrical, apices of valva rounded, and lobes of uncus linear, will separate males of parilis from those of other species of Perimede. In turn, the females may be distinguished by the lamella antevaginalis being narrow and extending from the middle of the seventh sternite to beyond the anterior margin of this segment.