Agonoxenidae
Encyclopedia
The Agonoxenidae are a family of moth
s only contains four named species in the whole world – all in the type genus
Agonoxena – if (e.g. following Nielsen et al., 1996) the Blastodacnidae are considered to be a separate family. Such a monotypic arrangement is fairly unusual in modern taxonomy
without explicit need due to phylogenetic constraints, and with little reliable data on the latter, the traditional approach is followed here pending new studies.
Hodges (in Kristensen, 1999) retained the Blastodacnidae in the Agonoxenidae, giving a grouping of some 31 genera, but treated the whole as a subfamily Agonoxeninae of the grass-miner moths (Elachistidae). The latter at least is spurious, given that the Elachistidae have been subject to excessive overlumping
. Collectively, the Agonoxenidae and "Blastodacnidae" are known as palm moths.
Blastodacna
, Dystebenna
, Haplochrois
, Heinemannia
and Spuleria
are sometimes placed here, sometimes in the Elachistidae
(or Blastodacnidae).
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s only contains four named species in the whole world – all in the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
Agonoxena – if (e.g. following Nielsen et al., 1996) the Blastodacnidae are considered to be a separate family. Such a monotypic arrangement is fairly unusual in modern taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
without explicit need due to phylogenetic constraints, and with little reliable data on the latter, the traditional approach is followed here pending new studies.
Hodges (in Kristensen, 1999) retained the Blastodacnidae in the Agonoxenidae, giving a grouping of some 31 genera, but treated the whole as a subfamily Agonoxeninae of the grass-miner moths (Elachistidae). The latter at least is spurious, given that the Elachistidae have been subject to excessive overlumping
Lumpers and splitters
Lumping and splitting refers to a well-known problem in any discipline which has to place individual examples into rigorously defined categories. The lumper/splitter problem occurs when there is the need to create classifications and assign examples to them, for example schools of literature,...
. Collectively, the Agonoxenidae and "Blastodacnidae" are known as palm moths.
Selected genera
- Agonoxena Meyrick, 1921
- AsymphorodesAsymphorodesAsymphorodes is a gelechioid moth genus in subfamily Agonoxeninae of the palm moth family , whose taxonomic status is disputed. Alternatively, the palm moths might be a subfamily of the grass-miner moth family , with the Agonoxeninae becoming a tribe Agonoxenini.Formerly, this genus was included in...
(formerly in CosmopterigidaeCosmopterigidaeCosmopterigidae is a family of insects in the Lepidoptera order. These are small moths with narrow wings whose tiny larvae feed internally on the leaves, seeds, stems, etc of their host plants. There are about 1,500 described species...
) - ChrysoclistaChrysoclistaChrysoclista is a genus of moths of the Agonoxenidae family.-Taxonomy:The genus is mostly placed in the Agonoxenidae family, but other authors list it as a member of the Elachistidae, Cosmopterigidae or Momphidae family.-Species:...
- ProterocosmaProterocosmaProterocosma is a genus of moth in the Agonoxenidae family. It was formerly included in the Cosmopterigidae.-Species:*Proterocosma anarithma Meyrick, 1888*Proterocosma chionopsamma Meyrick, 1886*Proterocosma dualis Diakonoff, 1954...
(formerly in Cosmopterigidae) - Tetanocentria Rebel, 1902
- TocastaTocastaTocasta is a genus of moth, belonging to the family Agonoxenidae. It has been included in the Coleophoridae and Tineidae in the past. It consists of only one species, Tocasta priscella, which is found in Panama....
Busck, 1912
Blastodacna
Blastodacna
Blastodacna is a genus of moths of the Elachistidae family.-Distribution:Blastodacna species are found in the Holarctic, although most species are native to the Palearctic.-Taxonomy:...
, Dystebenna
Dystebenna
Dystebenna is a genus of moths of the Elachistidae family. It contains only one species Dystebenna stephensi, which is found in central Europe, Great Britain, southern Sweden, the Crimea and western Transcaucasia.The wingspan is 8-9 mm...
, Haplochrois
Haplochrois
Haplochrois is a genus of moth in the family Elachistidae, though some classifications place it in the Agonoxenidae, Coleophoridae or Cosmopterigidae.-Selected species:* Haplochrois albanica...
, Heinemannia
Heinemannia
Heinemannia is a genus of moths of the Elachistidae family.-Distribution:Heinemannia species are found in the Palearctic ecozone, east up to south-western Siberia.-Taxonomy:...
and Spuleria
Spuleria
Spuleria is a genus of moths of the Elachistidae family. It contains only one species Spuleria flavicaput, which is found in most of Europe and Anatolia.The wingspan is 12-14 mm. Adults are on wing from May to June....
are sometimes placed here, sometimes in the Elachistidae
Elachistidae
| image = Elachista rufocinerea 2.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Elachista rufocinerea,demonstrating its tiny size versus an aphid and a spider mite | regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta...
(or Blastodacnidae).