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

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.

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.

Taxonomy and systematics

Genera of Symmocinae are:

Symmocini

Ambloma Walsingham,
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
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.


source - Wikipedia