^^^^ United ^^s II) Department of Agriculture A Taxonomic Revision Agricultural Research Service of the New World Technical Bulletin l\/loth Genus Pero Number 1698 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) -< ABSTRACT Poole, Robert W. 1987. A Taxonomic Revision of the New World Moth Genus Pero (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin No. 1698, 257 pp. This bulletin is a systematic revisionary monograph of Pero, a large moth genus of the family Geometridae and subfamily Ennominae, with species in almost all areas of the New World except arctic North America and extreme southern South America. This revision includes 294 species, of which 119 are described as new, and is divided into 19 species groups. There have been 253 previously described names; 74 junior synonyms are given. Geographic variation within a species is described, and when appropriate is illustrated. KEYWORDS: Ennominae, Geometridae, New World, Pero, systematics. ïSSSliAgriculture A Taxonomic Revision Ag^icutaai of the New World Sl^r Moth Genus Pero Technical Bulletin (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Number 1698 By Robert W. Poole I r - 13W ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONTENTS I express my gratitude to John G. Franclemont for Page serving as my graduate adviser and also for many kindnesses shown me during m}' years at Cornell Terminology and methods 1 University, Ithaca, N.Y. I am also indebted to the Genus Pero 1 late Harold Moore and Richard B. Root, Cornell Types of generic names 2 University, for their guidance as thesis advisers. Intergeneric relationships 2 Species identification 3 The following persons provided me with specimens in Key to species groups 3 their care: Fredrick Rindge, American Museum of Group 1 4 Natural History, New York; D.S. Fletcher, British Group 2 29 Museum of Natural History, London; W.C. McGuffin, Group 3 34 Canadian National Collection, Ottawa; Howard Evans, Group 4 42 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.; Group 5 54 E.L. Todd, National Museum of Natural History, Group 6 62 Washington, D.C.; and Jerry Powell, University Group 7 71 of California, Berkeley. Francisco Fernandez- Group 8 80 Yepez, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Central Group 9 83 de Venezuela, Maracay, made the facilities of the Group 10 85 Rancho Grande Experimental Station available to me. Group 11 99 Group 12 99 Part of the cost of the thesis research was covered Group 13 105 by grants from the Allied Chemical Foundation. Group 14 108 Group 15 113 Group 16 125 Group 17 127 Group 18 133 Group 19 133 Species not recognized or described 134 Literature cited 134 Index to species 137 Copies of this publication may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161. ARS has no additional copies for free distribution. Issued March 1987 A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE NEW WORLD MOTH GENUS sclerotized area of the anal tube and has been drawn PERO (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) out from its normal position between the uncus and gnathos. It may be highly developed and modified or by Robert W. Poole^ almost absent. All other terms used for the male and female genitalia follow Klots (1956).^ Pero is a large genus of geometrid moths of the In the drawings of the male genitalia, the left subfamily Ennominae taxonomically distinct from all valve is not shown. In the preparations of the other genera in the Geometridae. It is an entirely slide mounts of the male genitalia, the aedeagus was New World genus and is most highly evolved in the removed from its position between the juxta and the Andes, the mountains of southeastern Brazil and transtilla, and the vesica was inflated and placed northern Venezuela. However, species of the genus on the slide below the rest of the male genitalia. are found in almost every conceivable habitat, In the female genitalia, usually only the ostium and including high montane, lowland, and northern part of the ductus bursae are shown. The outline of coniferous forests, deserts, mangrove swamps, and the last abdominal sternite is added for reference. paramo areas. Within the genus Pero are species The drawings of both the male and female genitalia exhibiting one or more of the following are slightly simplified for clarity. characteristics: Sexual dimorphism, polymorphism, extreme geographic variation, a high degree of Because of the size of the genus, an effort was made individual variation, and even an apparent case of to keep the presentation as concise as possible. In circular overlap of races. particular, the descriptions are designed to supplement the illustrations, which I believe are The purpose of this bulletin is to provide a basic more useful than verbal descriptions. The taxonomic revision of one of the largest genera of descriptions include the diagnostic characters of a New World Lepidoptera. Revisions of large, species and the colors of the moth. Only primary primarily neotropical genera are rare. Hopefully references to the original description are given. this study will serve as a basis for more detailed studies on the distribution and biology of this In general, I have restricted type series to one or complex genus and lead to general conclusions about a few localities, although technically all specimens the moths of the New World Tropics as a whole. before me, as in the case of a new species, should be treated as paratypes. The primary reason for Pero as treated in this revision has 294 species, of restricting paratype series was to avoid mixing type which 119 are described as new, and is divided into series if a geographically variable species should, 19 species groups. There have been 253 previously at some later date, turn out to be two or more described names; 74 junior synonyms are given. species. Geographic variation within a species is described, and when appropriate is illustrated. Because The treatment of each species is concluded by the several geographically variable species exist, I number of specimens examined, their dates of have broadly interpreted specific limits, and some capture, and the localities by country and State as may wish to consider my collection of races as given on the insect labels. Any emendations are in superspecies. brackets. The dates of capture may not accurately reflect the true flight period of those species represented by only a limited number of specimens. TERMINOLOGY AND METHODS I suspect that in tropical America most species fly throughout the year. Most of the characters used to define groupings and to distinguish species are in the male and female genitalia. Many of the structures in the male GENUS PERO genitalia are unique to the genus and have no exact counterparts elsewhere in the Geometridae except in Pero Herrich-Schaeffer, 1855a:108, 121. Type: the closely related genus Nepitia Walker. The male Gonodontis rectisectaria Herrich-Schaeffer, genitalia of a hypothetical species of Pero are designated by Fletcher C1979). illustrated in figure 442 and the parts labeled. Pergama Herrich-Schaeffer, 1855b: figs. 142-143, and The terms of my own invention are costal fold, 1855a:108, 121. Type: Pergama polygonaria ventral process of the valve, and median process of Herrich-Schaeffer by monotypy. the valve. There are structures similar to the Azelina Guenée, 1857:156. Type: Azelina poaphilaria costal fold in other genera of the Ennominae, Guenée, designated by Warren (1905). although they are simpler and probably not Synemia Guenée, 1857:163-164. Type: Synemia homologous. The ventral and median processes of the polygonaria (Herrich-Schaeffer) by monotypy. valve are found only in Pero. The subscaphium is a Meticulodes Guenée, 1857:192-193. Type: Meticulodes spongiata by monotypy. NEW SYNONYMY. Egabra Walker, 1858:1668. Type: Egabra certissima Walker by monotypy. NEW SYNONYMY. 1 Systematic Entomolo^iy Laboratory, Agricultural Eusenea Walker, 1860a:254. Type: Eusenea aeniasaria Research Service, c/o National Museum of Natural Walker by monotypy. NEW SYNONYMY. History, Washington, D.C. 20560. This bulletin is based on information contained in a thesis submitted to the Graduate School of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., in partial fulfillment 2 The year after the author's name refers to of the requirements for the degree of doctor of Literature Cited, p. 134. philosophy. Stenaspilates Packard, 1876:212-213. Type: TYPES OF GENERIC NAMES Stenaspilates meskaria Packard by monotypy. NEW SYNONYMY. Pero has had many generic names proposed for groups Azellnopsis Warren, 1896:143-144. Type: Azelinopsis of superficially similar species. Herrich- externa Warren by original designation. NEW Schaeffer*s generic names Pero and Pergama both SYNONYMY. appeared in "Systematische Bearbeitung der Marmarea Hülst, 1896:379-380. Type: Marmarea Schmetterlinge von Europa" in 1855. The generic occidentails Hülst by original designation. name Pergama also was used in "Sammlung neuer, oder Stenodonta Warren, 1905b:379. Type: Stenodonta wenig bekannter, aussereuropäischer Schmetterlinge" incurvata Warren by original designation. NEW in 1855. Because neither work can be dated more SYNONYMY. precisely, both must be considered as published on December 31, 1855, under the provisions of the Adult.—Antennae variable, simple to pectinate; International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The palpi usually with first two segments large and generic name Pero did not appear in "Sammlung neuer, upturned, third small and porrect; tongue well oder wenig bekannter, aussereuropäischer developed. Legs with epiphysis present; spurs of Schmetterlinge" until 1856. Since Pero and Pergama mesothoracic and metathoracic legs present, well have the same date of publication, the correct developed. Wing shape and maculation variable; generic name to use depends on the first reviser. venation as in figure 441, but radial veins The first one I have been able to find is Prout variable, usually arising from two roots. No (1910b), who listed Pergama as a junior subjective supporting braces from base of tympani; no row of synonym of Pero. Therefore, Pero is the applicable spines on third abdominal sternite; eighth sternite generic name.