Termioptycha Meyrick, 1889: 504

Ranjan, Rahul, Singh, Navneet & Kirti, Jagbir Singh, 2022, On the taxonomy of genus Termioptycha Meyrick, 1889 (Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae) with description of two new species and two new species records from India, Zootaxa 5165 (3), pp. 415-424 : 416

Genus Termioptycha Meyrick, 1889: 504

Type species: Termioptycha cyanopa Meyrick, 1889 , by monotypy

= Sialocyttara Turner, 1913

Type species: Sialocyttara erasta Turner, 1913 , by monotypy

Distribution: Malaysia ( Hampson 1916), India, New Guinea, Australia, Madagascar ( Nuss et al. 2003 –2022), China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Borneo, Indonesia, Bhutan, Russia ( Rong et al. 2017, Nuss et al. 2003 –2022). Almost all the Indian species are confined to the Himalayan as well as Indo-Burma hotspot region with the single species, T. cornutitrifurca extending up to Western Ghats of India.

Diagnostic characters: The genus Termioptycha is diagnosed by a combination of characters in male genitalia: gnathos medially arched backward or produced into a process, with a process from base of each arm produced in most species and covered with thick and short setae; valva rhomboidal, usually with a process at base, costa with an apical spine; vesica with single cornutus or in form of bunch of spines ( Rong et al. 2017).

Diagnosis. Due to presence of an apical spine on the costa of valva, Termioptycha is closely similar to Lepidogma Meyrick, 1890 . However, the specific shape of gnathos distinguishes Termioptycha from Lepidogma . Externally, the members of Teliphasa Moore also resembles that of Termioptycha , however, the conspicuously sub-rounded valva and lack of costal spine in male genitalia of Teliphasa clearly differentiate it from Termioptycha .