Scythris Explained

Scythris is a genus of gelechioid moths. It is the type genus of the flower moth family, which is sometimes included as a subfamily in the Xyloryctidae, or together with these merged into the Oecophoridae.[1] The genus was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1825.

It is the largest genus of flower moths, and as such might not be fully monophyletic with regard to some very small or monotypic genera placed in the same family. In addition, new species of Scythris continue to be discovered and described.[2]

Selected species

Species groups

The species of Scythris have been divided among several groups, which may or may not be monophyletic; those that are may  - provided they are closely enough related to the type species S. limbella  - be considered subgenera. There is a considerable number of species whose exact relationships are hitherto elusive. Some have been placed in a "monospecific species group" of their own, as they are too distinct from the other groups to be included there, yet at the same time have characteristic autapomorphies. Species groups include:[3]

aenea group

aerariella group

alseriella group

Australian group

bagdadiella group

bazaensis group

boseanella group

camelella group

canescens group

caramani group

cicadella group

cistorum group

crassiuscula group

crypta group

decrepidella group

dissitella group

elenae group

empetrella group

fallacella group

formicella group

fuscoaenea group

fuscopterella group

gobiensis group

grandipennis group

gravatella group

iagella group

inclusella group

inertella group

inspersella group

insulella ("ericivorella") group

karinae group

karsholti group

klimeschi group

knochella group

laminella group

limbella group  - possibly subgenus Scythris

lobella group

mariannae group

martini group

meanderis group

monochreella group

mus group

nigrella group

nipholecta group

noricella group

obscurella group  - possibly subgenus Galanthia

palustris group

pascuella group

passerini group

penicillata group

petrella group

picaepennis group

pinker group

platypyga group

podoliensis group

polycarpaeae group

productella group

pulicella group

punctivittella group

rubioi group

schleichiella group

scopolella group

seliniella group

siccella group

sinensis group

subfasciata group

tributella group

unquisella group

? species group

Species incertae sedis

Finally, there are many species which are neither clearly assignable to any one species group, nor autapomorphic enough to be included in a monospecific "group". These include:

Afrotropical

Selected former species

References

Notes and References

  1. Pitkin & Jenkins (2004), AEBR (2008), ToL (2008), FE (2009), and see references in Savela (2008)
  2. FE (2009), and see references in Savela (2008)
  3. AEBR (2008), FE (2009), and see references in Savela (2008)