Periphoba of Mexico and Central America

In Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002 thirteen Periphoba species were recognized, having different, more limited ranges within the greater genus boundaries from Mexico to southeastern Brazil.

In 2006 C. Mielke and E. Furtado described four new species from north eastern Brazil.

In 2010 Brechlin & Meister described six new species and removed Periphoba rosacea from synonymity with P. arcaei.

Many species are extremely similar in appearance, and possibly DNA barcoding may be needed to do accurate id work, even when specimens are in hand. None-the-less, I am creating this chart and the other charts, linked from the bottom of this page, to try to help myself and others do id work when all that is available is a digital photo.

At least two species are very distinct: P. albata (white ground colour, no lines) and P. unicolor (yellow ground colour, no lines).

Two additional species may not be too difficult to sort out: P. rosaceae (quite pink; removed from synonymity with arcaei; Oaxaca and Chiapas) and P. hidalgensis: (forewings showing strong contrast in patterns/colours; Hidalgo and possibly Guerrero.

It will be very difficult, I feel, to conclusively sort of P. arcaei and the recently described P. rudloffi; Costa Rica to Colombia. Rudloffi has a brighter overall appearance and a darker, thicker hindwing median band.

Periphoba from Mexico and Central America

Periphoba albata male female is unknown Periphoba albata female Mex.: Chiapas? Honduras, Guatemala? Ground colour is white with a strong presence of black in the marginal areas of all wings weak, diffuse cell mark on hindwing; none on forewing Periphoba unicolor male 65-72mm; Mexico: Veracruz; Tabasco Periphoba unicolor female 70-90mm; Mexico: Veracruz; Tabasco Male: bright orange yellow; F: pale yellow without dark lines on any wings in either gender; male has small, dark, suboval forewing cell mark Periphoba rosacea male Mexico: Oaxaca; Chiapas Belize Periphoba rosacea female Mexico: Oaxaca; Chiapas Belize M: pale pink; very thin dark lines; very weak markings, formerly treated as subspecies of arcaei/hircia, then equated with arcaei. Periphoba hidalgensis male Periphoba hidalgensis female Periphoba arcaei male Periphoba arcaei female Panama, Mexico to Panama Am line emanates almost perpendicular to costa, pointing toward anal angle before turning toward inner margin Periphoba arcaei/rudloffi male Periphoba arcaei/rudloffi female Panama, Mexico to Panama Some specimens from Costa Rica seem intermediate between arcaei and rudloffi Periphoba rudloffi HT male Costa Rica Periphoba rudloffi PT male Colombia lighter and brighter brown than arcaei; From costa, am line runs subparallel to inner margin before turning obliquely toward inner margin

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