Symmocidae

Symmocidae
Adult Oegoconia quadripuncta (Four-spotted Yellowneck)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Division:	Ditrysia
Superfamily:	Gelechioidea
Family:	Symmocidae (disputed) Gozmany, 1957
Subfamilies
Oegoconiinae Symmocinae[verification needed]
Synonyms
Symmocinae[verification needed] Symmocini[verification needed] (but see text)

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

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 concealer moth subfamily Autostichinae and sometimes also the Holcopogonidae; in such treatments the combined group is typically removed 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 present group is 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]

Selected genera

Genera of Symmocidae include:^[4]

Symmocinae Amselina Gozmány, 1957 Apiletria Lederer, 1855 Aprominta Gozmány, 1957 Catasphalma Gozmány, 1957 Chersogenes Walsingham, 1908[verification needed] Donaspastus Gozmány, 1952 Dysspastus Gozmány, 1964 Epanastasis Walsingham, 1908[verification needed] 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

Oegoconiinae Apatema Walsingham, 1900 Apateona Gozmány, 2008 Dysallomima Gozmány, 2008 Nemotyla Nielsen, McQuillan & Common, 1992 (tentatively placed here) Oegoconia Stainton, 1854

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.