Subgenus Philothis Reichardt, 1930

Philothis Reichardt, 1930: 293 . Type species: Philothis arcanus Reichardt, 1930, original designation.

Philothis: REICHARDT (1941): 157, 337; PEYERIMHOFF (1936): 224; KRYZHANOVSKIJ & REICHARDT (1976): 112, 243; MAZUR (1984): 109; OLEXA (1990): 146; MAZUR (1997): 268; MAZUR (2004): 96.

Diagnosis. Characters of this subgenus are given in the determination key and in the general diagnosis of the genus.

Differential diagnosis. This subgenus differs from the other two subgenera by the following characters: from the subgenus Atavinus by the present (if at times reduced) pretarsi and reduced dorsal elytral striae (usually only dorsal elytral striae 1–2 are present, often abbreviated at base or apex); and from the subgenus Farabius by the smaller prosternal apophysis devoid of carinal prosternal striae.

Biology. See biology of Philothis s. l.

Distribution. Seven species of this subgenus are known hitherto, five of them from Central Asia (mostly from the Kara-kum and Kyzyl-kum Deserts located in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) and two species from Algerian Sahara (OLEXA 1990, MAZUR 1997).

Species examined. Philothis (Philothis) alsiosus Peyerimhoff, 1936, P. (P.) arcanus Reichardt, 1930, P. (P.) asper Kryzhanovskij, 1982, P. (P.) bidens (Peyerimhoff, 1900), P. (P.) generator Reichardt, 1930, P. (P.) medvedevi Kryzhanovskij, 1966, P. (P.) suturalis Reichardt, 1930 .