''Adeana'' is a
gelechioid moth
__NOTOC__
Gelechioidea (from the type genus ''Gelechia'', "keeping to the ground") is the Taxonomic rank, superfamily of moths that contains the case-bearers, twirler moths, and relatives, also simply called curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths. ...
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
usually placed in the
cosmet moth
The Cosmopterigidae are a family of insects (cosmet moths) in the order Lepidoptera. These are small moths with narrow wings whose tiny larvae feed internally on the leaves, seeds and stems of their host plants. About 1500 species are described ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
(Cosmopterigidae),
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Cosmopteriginae. Only a single
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
is known, ''Adeana leucoxantha''. It occurs in southern
Polynesia
Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...
.
This genus may be allied to the enigmatic ''
Clarkeophlebia argentea'' (another Polynesian species) and/or ''
Asymphorodes
''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) ...
'' and/or ''
Labdia'' (where ''A. leucoxantha'' was originally placed). ''Asymphorodes'', however, has more recently been assigned to the
palm moth
The Agonoxeninae are a subfamily of moths.
History of classification
Formerly, the subfamily only contained four named species – all in the type genus ''Agonoxena'' – if (e.g. following Nielsen ''et al.'', 1996). Such a monotypic arr ...
s of the (somewhat disputed) family Agonoxenidae. This may thus be correct for ''Adeana'' (and ''Clarkeophlebia'') too.
References
Natural History Museum Lepidoptera genus database
Cosmopteriginae
Monotypic moth genera
Moths of Oceania
{{Cosmopteriginae-stub