Pyrochlora Warren, 1895

Viidalepp, Jaan, 2009, Revision of the genus Pyrochlora Warren, 1895 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Geometrinae), Zootaxa 1989, pp. 55-65 : 56

Pyrochlora Warren, 1895

Pyrochlora Warren, 1895 , Novit. Zool. 2: 90. Type species: Phalaena rhanis Cramer, 1777 .

The genus is grouped within the tribe Nemorini according to Pitkin (1996), based on characters of male genitalia: a) the presence of central sclerotization (“midrib”) of sternite A8; b) rod-like or spatulate uncus; and c) costal sclerotization of valva. Pitkin (1996) discussed the genital characters of Pyrochlora in comparison with those of Tachychlora Prout, 1912 . Generic characters of Pyrochlora include pectinate antennae in both sexes; weakly shaped, orange or brownish fillet between antennae; orange and brown colour of frons; olive green and grey to brown pattern of wings with a distinct orange, yellow or whitish patch subtornally in forewing and subcostally in hindwing. Hind tibiae with two pairs of spurs and bearing contrasting black tufts of scales at joints; inner spurs are longer than external ones, and distance between spur pairs shorter than the longest spurs. Male hind tibia with a hair pencil concealed in a rim and distally covered by a short apical projection. Tachychlora species share a white head color, contrasting black and yellow markings on hindwings, much longer, filiform uncus and sidewise projecting cornuti on aedeagus.