Holcophora Staudinger, 1871

Adamski, David & Sattler, Klaus, 2019, Holcophora Staudinger, 1871, a senior synonym of Aponoea Walsingham, 1905, syn. n., (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Gelechiidae): with Holcophorainderskella (Caradja, 1920), comb. n., transferred from Blastobasis Zeller, 1855 (Blastobasidae), Nota Lepidopterologica 42 (1), pp. 17-25 : 18

Holcophora Staudinger, 1871

Holcophora Staudinger, 1871: 313. Type species: Holcophora statices Staudinger, 1871: 313, by monotypy. [Figs 1-4]

Aponoea Walsingham, 1905: 125. Type species: Aponoea obtusipalpis Walsingham, 1905: 125, by original designation and monotypy. Syn. n. [Figs 5-8]

Generic diagnosis.

The two type species, Holcophora statices and Aponoea obtusipalpis have similarly patterned forewings (Figs 1, 5) and long labial palpi (the palpi are upturned in the former species and more or less porrect in the latter species). Although these characters were once considered important for generic recognition, the genitalia (Figs 2-4, 6-8) provide a more reliable suite of characters for setting generic limits. We propose that Holcophora Staudinger is a senior subjective synonym of Aponoea Walsingham because they share: a stout or shortened tegumen; bifurcate apices of the saccular part of the valvae; inwardly-curved and narrowed apical 2/3 of the costal part of the valvae; both saccular and costal parts of the valvae short, extending to or slightly exceeding the uncus; tegumen about.6 wider at widest point compared with width of tegumen at level of anterior arch; aedeagus shorter than saccular and costal parts of valvae; and signum with transverse mesial ridge.

Hostplants.

Plumbaginaceae .

Distribution.

Palaearctic.

Remarks.

The subfamily and tribal position of Holcophora is still somewhat uncertain. Meyrick placed Holcophora and Aponoea , separated only by Rhynchopacha Staudinger, 1871 (= Athrips Billberg, 1820), in his 'Group 7 ( Dichomeris type)' (= Dichomeridinae), Karsholt et al. (1996: 120) in Gelechiinae ( Chelariini ). We follow Ponomarenko (2009: 195, English translation), who placed Holcophora in Gelechiinae ( Gelechiini ), based on specifics of the male genitalia musculature.