Symmocinae

Symmocinae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Division:	Ditrysia
Superfamily:	Gelechioidea
Family:	Autostichidae
Subfamily:	Symmocinae Gozmány, 1957
Subfamilies
Oegoconiinae Symmocinae
Synonyms
Symmocidae Symmocini (but see text)

The Symmocinae are a subfamily of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. These small moths are found mainly in the Palearctic and Africa.^[1]

In modern treatments, they are usually united with the concealer moth family Autostichidae.

History of classification

They have traditionally been considered close relatives of the Blastobasidae, where they were sometimes included as subfamily Symmocinae. In arrangements that include the former in the case-bearer family (Coleophoridae) as subfamily Blastobasinae, the Symmocidae were usually treated as tribe Symmocini. Alternatively, they have been united with the Holcopogonidae; in such a treatment the combined group is typically not included in the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae) but treated as distinct family Autostichidae or Symmocidae, with the respective subfamilies downranked to tribes. Another group proposed to be a close relative is the Xyloryctinae, usually included in the Oecophoridae wherever the Symmocidae are. More recently, with additional data and molecular phylogenetic analyses becoming available, the Symmocidae are reinstated as a family in their own right, pending further study of gelechioid interrelationships.^[2]

Regardless of their systematic position and taxonomic rank, the group was usually divided into two groups, one centered on Oegoconia and the other encompassing those genera closer to Symmoca. The former is called Oegoconiinae or Oegoconiini and the latter Symmocinae or Symmocini, depending on whether the overall group is treated as family or subfamily. While the overall circumscription and the relationships of the Symmocidae are essentially unresolved, the Oegoconiinae-Symmocinae subdivision seems to be quite well warranted.^[3]

Taxonomy and systematics

Genera of Symmocinae are:^[4]

Symmocini Ambloma Walsingham, [1908] Amselina Gozmány, 1957 Apiletria Lederer, 1855 Aprominta Gozmány, 1957 Catasphalma Gozmány, 1957 Chersogenes Walsingham, 1908 Donaspastus Gozmány, 1952 Dysspastus Gozmány, 1964 Epanastasis Walsingham, 1908 Metaxitagma Gozmány, 1985 Nukusa Gozmány, 1963 Orpecacantha Gozmány, 2008 Orpecovalva Gozmány, 1964 Pantacordis Gozmány, 1954 Stibaromacha Meyrick, 1928 Symmoca Hübner, 1825 Symmocoides Amsel, 1939 Telephirca Gozmány, 1957

Unknown placement Acrosyntaxis Gozmány, 1957 Afrosymmoca Gozmány, 1966 Aspronympha Gozmány, 2008 Chionellidea Amsel, 1940 Concordaxis Gozmány, 2008 Cornusymmoca Gozmány, 1965 Dyscordaxis Gozmány, 1975 Eremica Walsingham, 1904 Eremicamura Gozmány, 1962 Gerdana Busck, 1908 Hecestoptera Gozmány, 1961 Hieronala Gozmány, 1963 Indiospastus Gozmány, 1967 Kertomesis Gozmány, 1962 Kullashara Gozmány, 1963 Leilaptera Gozmány, 1963 Morotripta Meyrick, 1917 Mylothra Meyrick, 1907 Nastoceras Chrétien in Oberthür, 1922 Nestorellus Gerasimov, 1930 †Oegoconiites Kusnetsov, 1941 Pecteneremus Gozmány, 1963 Sagarancona Gozmány, 1964 Sceptea Walsingham, 1911 Serendipitia Gozmány, 2008 Spinitibia Lee & Brown, 2010 Symmacantha Gozmány, 1963 †Symmocites Kusnetsov, 1941 Synchordaxis Gozmány, 2008 Syssymmoca Gozmány, 1963 Taygete Chambers, 1873 Tenieta Amsel, 1942 Xenoplaxa Gozmány, 1963

Ambloma is sometimes placed in the Symmocinae, but others consider it a member of the Gelechiidae.

Footnotes

1. ABRS (2008)
2. ABRS (2008), ToL (2008), FE (2009), Wikispecies (2006-NOV-07), and see references in Savela (2001)
3. ABRS (2008), FE (2009)
4. ABRS (2008), FE (2009), and see references in Savela (2001)

References

• Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) (2008): Australian Faunal Directory – Symmocidae. Version of 2008-OCT-09. Retrieved 2010-APR-29.
• Fauna Europaea (FE) (2009): Symmocinae [sic]. Version 2.1, 2009-DEC-22. Retrieved 2010-APR-29.
• Savela, Markku (2001): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms – Symmocinae [sic]. Version of 2001-NOV-08. Retrieved 2010-APR-29.
• Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) (2008): Coleophoridae. Version of 2008-MAY-01. Retrieved 2010-APR-28.