Much confusion exists with respect to the content and definition of the psyUid subfamily
Paurocephalinae. Based on a cladistic analysis of 22 morphological characters (16 adult
and 6 larval), the subfamily is redefined to comprise the following five valid genera:
Aphorma (3 species), Camarotoscena (12 valid species, with 1 new synonymy), DiC/idophlebia
(= Aconopsylla, Haplaphalara, Paraphalaroida, Sinuonemopsylla and Woldaia;
24 species), Paurocephala (52 species) and Syntomoza (= Anomoterga and Homalocephata;
7 species). The tribe Diclidophlebiini is synonymised with the subfamily Paurocephalinae.
The seven new generic synonymies produce 25 new species combinations. A
key to genera for adults and fifth instar larvae is presented. In their revised definitions
the genera exhibit relatively restricted distributions and host ranges: Aphorma: Palaearctic,
Oriental - Ranunculaceae; Camarotoscena: Palaearctic - Salicaceae; Diclidophtebia:
pantropical - Tiliaceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae, Melastomataceae, Rhamnaceae,
Ulmaceae and Euphorbiaceae; Paurocephala: Old World tropics - Moraceae, Urticaceae.
Ulmaceae (all Urticales), Malvaceae. Sterculiaceae (all Malvales) and Clusiaceae (rheales);
Syntomoza: Oriental, Afrotropical, Palaearctic - Flacourtiaceae, Salicaceae. The
following taxa which have been referred to the Paurocephalinae are transferred to other
taxa: Atmetocranium to the Calophyidae and Primascena to the Aphalaroidinae;
Pseudaphorma is symonymised with Aphatara, and P. astigma with A. polygoni; the position
of Strophingia is confirmed in the Strophingiinae.peer-reviewe
