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Tribe Phycitini

Acrobasis tricolorella Melitara subumbrella - Hodges #5973 - Melitara subumbrella Phycitodes albatella - Homoeosoma electellum Acrobasis - Acrobasis comptoniella Sarata dophnerella - Sarata pullatella - male Pennsylvania Moth - Caudellia apyrella Laetilia Pyralidae: Homoeosoma electellum - Homoeosoma electellum
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)
Family Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
Subfamily Phycitinae
Tribe Phycitini
Pronunciation
FIS-i-TEE-nee
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Phycitini Zeller, 1839
Acrobasiina Agenjo, 1958
Identification
There currently is no accepted classification scheme within Phycitini, though close relationships between certain sets of genera are clearly evident (Brian Scholtens, pers. comm. June 2023). With this in mind, I (ASH) have split this tribe in nine to facilitate easier identification here on BugGuide. My division is partly artificial, and at least a few of the groupings of genera I have made are surely polyphyletic. Each division consists of one or two nearby complete portions of the P3NA phylogenetic checklist. Each division is labeled with the range(s) of P3NA numbers included, which links to the relevant MPG pinned plate(s).

Acrobasis Group800150–800192 — Three genera, possibly monophyletic, share a distinctive ridge of raised scales proximally bounding the AM line of the forewing from near the costa to the inner margin; 41 of the 43 species in North America north of Mexico are in the large genus Acrobasis; Anabasis ochrodesma is found throughout FL and along the coast from eastern TX to SC, and Hypargyria slossonella occurs in FL and TX.


Euzophera Series800193–800222 — 15 genera, 29 species — Heterogeneous grouping


Ephestia Series800223–800264, 800270–800278 — 19 genera, 49 species — Probably mostly a natural grouping; most species are shades of gray and brown with complete AM and PM; palpi usually short to medium-length


Pima Series800265–800269, 800279–800295 — 6 genera, 22 species — Heterogeneous grouping


Nephopteryx Series800296–800408 — 22 genera, 112 species — Includes two potential monophyletic groups and a number of related genera; palpi recurved except in Pyla; antennae usually strongly modified at base in males, the source of a common name for Phycitinae (knot-horn moths); some with ridge of raised scales on forewing as in Acrobasis


Salebriaria Group — 7 genera, 35 species — Potentially monophyletic group closely related to the following group



Sciota Group — 4 genera, 35 species — Potentially monophyletic group closely related to the preceding group


Dioryctria800409–800448 — 40 species — discal spots fused fused and white, often conspicuous, uniquely among Nearctic Phycitinae


Sarata Series800449–800556 — 50 genera, 108 species — Heterogeneous grouping




Cactus-Feeding Group800557–800615 — 16 genera, 58 species — Gray and brown moths; most feed on cactus, and Laetilia on scale insects


Homoeosoma Series800616–800651 — 10 genera, 35 species — Most gray; AM line usually incomplete or poorly-marked