The Depressariinae – sometimes spelled "Depressiinae" in error – are a subfamily of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Like their relatives therein, their exact relationships are not yet very well resolved. It has been considered part of family Elachistidae sensu lato or included in an expanded Oecophoridae.Scoble (1995), ABRS (2008), FE (2009), Wikispecies (24 March 2010), and see references in Savela (2009) In modern classifications they are treated as the distinct gelechioid family Depressariidae.
As regards subdivisions, the Amphisbatinae are often held to be as close to the Depressariinae as to be included there, in particular if the latter are raised to full family rank, but also otherwise (as a tribe Amphisbatini in the Depressariinae). If Depressariinae are treated as oecophorid subfamily, it is more common to include the group around Cryptolechia, which is sometimes (especially in older arrangements) separated as tribe Cryptolechiini in subfamily Cryptolechiinae. The lineage of Cacochroa and its closest relatives – typically included in the "Cryptolechiinae" if these are treated as independent oecophorid subfamily – actually seems to be closer to Orophia, and would be part of tribe Orophiini if these are placed in the Oecophorinae. But they have also been included in the present group (as tribe(s) Orophiini and sometimes also Cacochroini), particularly if this is considered a full-fledged family. The same holds true for the Xyloryctidae, a group treated here as family but previously thought to be a subfamily of the Oecophoridae. Finally, the Semioscopis lineage is occasionally separated from the rest of the Depressariinae as tribe Epigraphiini (after its junior synonym Epigraphia). In all such treatments, the core group of Depressariinae becomes a tribe Depressariini.
Distribution and ecology Some 600 species were placed here as of 1999 (but see the caveats about the group's circumscription above). New taxa of Depressariinae are still being discovered and described on a regular basis. The group is found worldwide except on some oceanic islands and frozen wasteland, but the diversity is highest in temperate regions and the group is presumably Holarctic in origin – possibly Palaearctic, as gelechioid diversity in the Neotropics is poor but e.g. in Australia almost 20 species are found. From Europe alone, more than 160 species and subspecies (mostly of genus Agonopterix) were known in 2009, with over 80 recorded from Central Europe.Scoble (1995), Hodges (1999), ABRS (2008), FE (2009), Lepiforum (2010)
The caterpillars usually develop in leaves spun together with silk, as stem borers or as seed or flower feeders of dicotyledons. Recorded Depressariinae host plants are mainly eurosids I (e.g. Betulaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Urticaceae) but also from some other families (e.g. Malvaceae and Rutaceae – eurosids II –, or euasterids II like Apiaceae and Asteraceae).Scoble (1995), Hodges (1999)
Genera
Genera of Depressariinae – with some notable species also listed – include:ABRS (2008), Wikispecies (24 March 2010), and see references in Savela (2009)
Tribe Fuchsiini Fuchsia Spuler, 1910 Tribe Telechrysidini Telechrysis Toll, 1956 Tribe Depressariini Agonopterix Hübner, 1825 Apachea Clarke, 1941 Bibarrambla Clarke, 1941 Depressaria Exaeretia Stainton, 1849 Himmacia Clarke, 1941 Levipalpus Hannemann, 1953 Luquetia Leraut, 1991 Nites Hodges, 1974 Semioscopis Hübner, 1825 Tribe Amphisbatini Eupragia Walsingham, 1911 Machimia (Amphisbatinae?) Psilocorsis Clemens, 1860 (Amphisbatinae?) Unplaced to tribe Acria Stephens, 1834 Afdera Clarke, 1978 Ancipita Busck, 1914 Athrinacia Walsingham, 1911 Barantola Walker, 1864 Bleptochiton Turner, 1947 Chariphylla Meyrick, 1921 Comotechna Meyrick, 1920 Costoma Busck, 1914 Deloryctis Meyrick, 1934 Doina Clarke, 1978 Doleromima Meyrick, 1902 Doshia Clarke, 1978 Eclecta Meyrick, 1883 Ectaga Walsingham, 1912 Enchocrates Meyrick, 1883 Enteremna Meyrick, 1917 Erithyma Meyrick, 1914 Euprionocera Turner, 1896 Eutorna Meyrick, 1889 Filinota Busck, 1911 Gnathotona Meyrick, 1931 Gonada Busck, 1911 Gymnoceros Turner, 1946 Habrophylax Meyrick, 1931 Haereta Turner, 1947 Hamadera Busck, 1914 Hastamea Busck, 1940 Heterobathra Lower, 1901 Himotica Meyrick, 1912 Hozbeka Özdikmen, 2009 (formerly Talitha Clarke, 1978 (non Faure, 1958: preoccupied)) Idiocrates Meyrick, 1909 Iphimachaera Meyrick, 1931 Lepidozancla Turner, 1916 Loboptila Turner, 1919 Lucyna Clarke, 1978 Maesara Clarke, 1968 Magniophaga Beéche, 2018 Mimozela Meyrick, 1914 Muna Clarke, 1978 Nedenia Clarke, 1978 Nematochares Meyrick, 1931 Notosara Meyrick, 1890 Octasphales Meyrick, 1886 Osmarina Clarke, 1978 Palinorsa Meyrick, 1924 Pedois Lower, 1894 Peritornenta Turner, 1900 Perzelia Clarke, 1978 Philtronoma Meyrick, 1914 Pholcobates Meyrick, 1931 Phytomimia Walsingham, 1912 Pisinidea Butler, 1883 Profilinota Clarke, 1973 Pseudocentris Meyrick, 1921 Psittacastis Meyrick, 1909 Psorosticha Lower, 1901 Ptilobola Meyrick, 1933 Rhindoma Busck, 1914 Scoliographa Meyrick, 1916 Scorpiopsis Turner, 1894 Thalamarchella T. B. Fletcher, 1940 (formerly Thalamarchis Meyrick, 1904 (non Meyrick, 1897: preoccupied)) Thyromorpha Turner, 1917 Tonica Walker, 1864 Trycherodes Meyrick, 1914
Footnotes
References
See also Gelechioidea Talk page for comparison of some approaches to gelechioid systematics and taxonomy. (2008): Australian Faunal Directory – Depressariidae [sic]. Version of 9 October 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2010. (2009): Depressariidae [sic]. Version 2.1, 22 December 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2010. (1999): The Gelechioidea. In: : Handbuch der Zoologie/Handbook of Zoology (Volume IV – Arthropoda: Insecta. Part 35: Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies 1): 131–158. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin & New York. (2010): Depressariidae [sic] (Flachleibmotten) in Mitteleuropa [in German]. Version of 28 March 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010. (2009): Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms – Depressiinae [sic ]. Version of 20 August 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010. (1995): The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity. Oxford University Press, Oxford.