Peridroma spp.

Status

NATIVE | ADVENTIVE

Taxonomy

Peridroma Hübner, 1821
Higher taxonomy: Noctuidae: Noctuinae: Noctuini

Species known to occur in Hawaiʻi: 
NATIVE
Peridroma albiorbis (Warren, 1912); Peridroma chersotoides (Butler, 1881); Peridroma cinctipennis albistigma (Warren, 1912); Peridroma cinctipennis cinctipennis (Butler, 1881); Peridroma coniotis coniotis (Hampson, 1903); Peridroma coniotis rufata (Warren, 1912); Peridroma neurogramma (Meyrick, 1899Meyrick, 1899:
Meyrick E. 1899. Macrolepidoptera. In: Sharp D, Fauna Hawaiiensis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. p 123–275. ); Peridroma selenias (Meyrick, 1899Meyrick, 1899:
Meyrick E. 1899. Macrolepidoptera. In: Sharp D, Fauna Hawaiiensis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. p 123–275. )

ADVENTIVE
Peridroma saucia (Hübner, 1808)

Overview

There is a small radiation of native Peridroma in Hawai‘i. Remarkably, these represent about half of the described species of Peridroma worldwide. However, the species status of several are doubtful, and there are likely fewer species in Hawai‘i than the current taxonomy would suggest. Several subspecies names appear to merely represent color forms of a few, more widespread native species.

Adult Recognition

Adults of native Hawaiian Peridroma are somewhat variable in forewingforewing:
the front wing of an insect; the wing attached to the second segment of the thorax (the mesothorax)
pattern but generally are medium-sized to large noctuids (forewing lengthforewing length:
the distance of the forewing in a straight line from the base to the tip of the apex
14–23 mm) with distinct orbicular and reniform spotsreniform spot:
a spot, often broad bean- or kidney-shaped, found at the distal end of the discal cell
(obscured in some species); the claviform spotclaviform spot:
an elongate spot or mark extending laterally from the antemedial line into the median area, toward and sometimes reaching the postmedial line
is typically obsolete. The postmedial linepostmedial line:
a thin, transverse line located distal to the reniform spot, typically on the distal third of the forewing
is well-developed and scalloped or jagged. Most species have a gray hindwinghindwing:
the back wing of an insect; the wing attached to the third segment of the thorax (the metathorax)
with darker veins. Males have a thin pair of sex scale tufts at the base of the abdomenabdomen:
the third and posterior-most body section of an insect
. 

Larval Morphology

Larvae of native Peridroma spp. have not been formally described, but they likely resemble P. saucia. 

Similar Species

The native species of Peridroma could be confused with the introduced P. saucia. They differ from P. saucia by not possessing purplish scaling on the ventralventral:
refers to the bottom or underside of an organism
surface of the hindwingshindwing:
the back wing of an insect; the wing attached to the third segment of the thorax (the metathorax)
(Zimmerman 1958Zimmerman 1958:
Zimmerman EC. 1958. Insects of Hawaii, Volume 7. Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. 542 pp.). Worn specimens could be confused with some species of Agrotis, but males of Peridroma do not have the wide antennal serrations of Agrotis males. Agrotis spp. also lack the paired sex scale tufts at the base of the abdomenabdomen:
the third and posterior-most body section of an insect
like in Peridroma.

Distribution

Species of native Peridroma are known from all of the main high Hawaiian Islands but are largely restricted to intact mesic and wet forests, generally above 600 meters elevation. Species have not been collected recently from O‘ahu.

Biology

Host plants for only two species are known. Peridroma cinctipennis has been reared from several different plants, both introduced and endemic: Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd., Cheirodendron spp., unidentified grasses (Poaceae), Lythrum sp., Mangifera indica L., Metrosideros sp., Pittosporum sp., Sonchus spp. (forced feeding in laboratory), and Wikstroemia sp. Peridroma coniotis has been reared from Chenopodium sp. (Zimmerman 1958Zimmerman 1958:
Zimmerman EC. 1958. Insects of Hawaii, Volume 7. Macrolepidoptera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. 542 pp.). Little else is known about individual species' life histories.