Asymphorodes
Introduction '''''Asymphorodes''''' is a gelechioid moth genus in subfamily Agonoxeninae of the palm moth family (Agonoxenidae), whose taxonomic status is disputed. Alternatively, the palm moths might be a subfamily of the grass-miner moth family (Elachistidae), with the Agonoxeninae becoming a tribe Agonoxenini.Formerly, this genus was included in the cosmet moths (Cosmopterigidae). They are found in southern Polynesia as well as the Hawaiian and the Solomon Islands, and are notable for their adaptive radiation on the Marquesas Islands.
Description These small moths come in a diverse range of more or less subdued colors and in their natural range can usually be distinguished by their wing venation: In the forewings, vein 1b is forked and vein 1c missing; veins 2 and 3 neither run parallel nor approach at the end, and vein 5 does not emerge from a common stalk with veins 6-8.In addition, like in some related moths the scape is short and bears a comb.The male genitals are generally similar to those of cosmet moths, but this may be a symplesiomorphy. The vinculum is variously developed and the valvae thus attach variously far from the tegumen, though often quite closely. The gnathos is typically two-armed, but one of the arms may be underdeveloped or even missing altogether. The right manica is vestigial or missing, while the left one is set tightly against the aedeagus. Most characteristically though, the eighth sternal and fourth to seventh abdominal segments are modified, the former forming epitygmata ("genital flaps"). Like in some related moths, the males also have a tuft of hairs on the hindwing underside, which can be folded into a pocket in the wing cell. The uncus (in males) and signum (in females) are usually absent. As regards other features of the female genitals, the ovipositor is long while the ostium is usually well sclerotized and protrudes, but may be recessed into a deep pit in the seventh sternal segment.
Species Species of ''Asymphorodes'' include:* ''Asymphorodes acerba'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes acritopterus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes acrophrictis'' Meyrick, 1934* ''Asymphorodes admirandus'' Meyrick, 1934* ''Asymphorodes adynatus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes aenigma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes albicoma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes amblysoma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes aporema'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1987* ''Asymphorodes aporia'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes astathopis'' (Meyrick, 1934) (formerly in ''Limnaecia'')* ''Asymphorodes balanotis'' Meyrick, 1934* ''Asymphorodes bipunctatus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes brevimacula'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes canicoma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes chalcocoma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes chalcopterus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes chalcosoma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes chalcozona'' * ''Asymphorodes chrysophanes'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes cicatricula'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes circopis'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes cirsodes'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes coesyrias'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes culminis'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes cuneatus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes diamphidius'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes didyma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes diffidentia'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes dimorpha'' (formerly in ''Hyposmocoma'') * ''Asymphorodes emphereia'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes ergodes'' Meyrick, 1934* ''Asymphorodes favilla'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes flexa'' (Meyrick, 1921)* ''Asymphorodes fractura'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes hemileucus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes holoporphyra'' Meyrick, 1934* ''Asymphorodes homosoma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes honoria'' J.F.G.Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes hypostema'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes interstincta'' Meyrick, 1929 (may include ''A. poliopterus'')* ''Asymphorodes lenticula'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes leptotes'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes leucoloma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes leucoterma'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes lucerna'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes lucidus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes macrogramma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes mediostriatus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes melanosoma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes mesoxanthus'' J.F.G.Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes monoxesta'' * ''Asymphorodes montgomeryi'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes myronotus'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes nebrias'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes nephocirca'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes nigricornis'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes nuciferae'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes ochrogramma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes oculisignis'' Meyrick, 1934* ''Asymphorodes paraporia'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes phaeochorda'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes phaeodelta'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes phalarogramma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes plectographa'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes plemmelia'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes poliopterus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986 (may belong in ''A. interstincta'')* ''Asymphorodes pollutus'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes porphyrarcha'' Meyrick, 1929 (= ''A. xestophanes'')* ''Asymphorodes regina'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes remigiata'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes semileuteus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes seminiger'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes sericeus'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes sphenocopa'' Meyrick, 1929* ''Asymphorodes spintheropus'' (Meyrick, 1934) (formerly in ''Stagmatophora'')* ''Asymphorodes spodogramma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes triaula'' (formerly in ''Hyposmocoma'') * ''Asymphorodes trichogramma'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes trigrapha'' J.F.G. Clarke, 1986* ''Asymphorodes valligera'' Meyrick, 1929 (= ''A. ingravescens'')* ''Asymphorodes xanthostola'' Meyrick, 1934
Footnotes
References *  (1986): Pyralidae and Microlepidoptera of the Marquesas Archipelago. ''Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology'' '''416''': 1-485.PDF fulltext  (214 MB!)