# Steniini

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**Steniini** is a [tribe](/source/Tribe_(biology)) of the species-rich [subfamily](/source/Subfamily) [Spilomelinae](/source/Spilomelinae) in the [pyraloid moth](/source/Pyraloidea) [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Crambidae](/source/Crambidae). The group was first proposed by [Achille Guenée](/source/Achille_Guen%C3%A9e) in 1854 as "Steniadae",[2]: 232 and later used as name for the Spilomelinae tribe containing its [type genus](/source/Type_genus) *Stenia* (a [synonym](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) of *[Dolicharthria](/source/Dolicharthria)*).[3]

## Description

Adult Steniini are characterised by long legs, and males typically have a slender, long abdomen. In the male genitalia, the uncus with its bifid chaetae is single or bicapitate (in *[Loxostegopsis](/source/Loxostegopsis)* and *[Tatobotys](/source/Tatobotys)*) or entirely split (in *[Metasia](/source/Metasia)*). The costa of the valva is concave or straight, in some taxa weakly convex. The valva itself is simple and usually lacks a fibula or exhibits a single fibula originating from base of valva; in the *[Duponchelia](/source/Duponchelia)* group,[4] two or three small fibulae are present at the base of the valva. The fibula and the dorsodistal sacculus or its extension are non-overlapping. The phallus has a caecum. In the female genitalia, a signum is generally absent except in *[Bradina](/source/Bradina)* and *[Perisyntrocha](/source/Perisyntrocha)*, where it forms a toothed arc. The ostium and ductus bursae lack any other sclerotization; the absence of sclerotisations in the corpus bursae is considered a [synapomorphy](/source/Synapomorphy_and_apomorphy) of Steniini.[3] In the *[Duponchelia](/source/Duponchelia)* group, the forewing has vein Rs1 stalked with Rs2+3. A recurrent character in several but not all species of this group is the fovea in the male forewing at the distal end of the discal cell. In the male genitalia the dorsal vinculum exhibits a pair of elongate hairpencils. The ductus bursae in the female genitalia is very short. In the [caterpillars](/source/Caterpillar), the mesothoracic SD2 seta is fine and hairlike.[4][3]

## Food plants

Steniini [caterpillars](/source/Caterpillar) generally appear to feed on [detritus](/source/Detritus). In Southeast Asia, the larvae of the *Duponchelia* group are detritivores in marshes and intertidal environments of mangrove swamps. They are often associated with the *[Avicennia](/source/Avicennia)* zone of mangrove forests, which is inundated at high tides.[4][5][6]

Particular food records are known for only a few species:

- *[Dolicharthria punctalis](/source/Dolicharthria_punctalis)* feeds on wilting leaves of different plants.[7]
- *[Duponchelia fovealis](/source/Duponchelia_fovealis)* is considered an [invasive](/source/Invasive_species) [pest](/source/Pest_(organism)); it feeds on a wide range of host plants.[8]
- *[Hymenoptychis sordida](/source/Hymenoptychis_sordida)* caterpillars spin silk galleries among algae and litter in the intertidal zone of mangroves and generally feed on green algae, decomposing litter, wet rotted timber, and *Avicennia* fruits.[5]
- *[Metasia corsicalis](/source/Metasia_corsicalis)* feeds on detritus.[9]
- *[Nacoleia charesalis](/source/Nacoleia_charesalis)* feeds on rotting leaves and bores in [turmeric](/source/Turmeric) stems.[10]
- *[Nacoleia octasema](/source/Nacoleia_octasema)* consumes inflorescences of bananas.[11]
- *[Tatobotys janapalis](/source/Tatobotys_janapalis)* larvae are detritiphagous on decaying leaves of many mangrove species, and thrive under very poor conditions.[5]
- *[Tatobotys biannulalis](/source/Tatobotys_biannulalis)* larvae are scavengers in debris at the base of rice and probably other grasses.[12]

## Distribution

The genera *[Anageshna](/source/Anageshna)*, *[Apogeshna](/source/Apogeshna)*, *[Loxostegopsis](/source/Loxostegopsis)*, *[Penestola](/source/Penestola)* and *[Steniodes](/source/Steniodes)* are confined to the [Americas](/source/Americas), whereas *[Bradina](/source/Bradina)*, *[Dichocrocis](/source/Dichocrocis)* and *[Dolicharthria](/source/Dolicharthria)* can be found in both the [Old](/source/Old_World) and [New World](/source/New_World). The remaining genera are [Old World](/source/Old_World) taxa, with *[Epherema](/source/Epherema)*, *[Hymenoptychis](/source/Hymenoptychis)*, *[Symmoracma](/source/Symmoracma)* and *[Tatobotys](/source/Tatobotys)* primarily found in the [tropics](/source/Tropics) of [Asia](/source/Asia).[1]

## Systematics

The tribe currently comprises the following 15 genera, altogether containing 256 species:[1]

- *[Anageshna](/source/Anageshna)* Munroe, 1956
- *[Apogeshna](/source/Apogeshna)* Munroe, 1956 (synonym *Euvalva* Amsel, 1956)
- *[Bradina](/source/Bradina)* Lederer, 1863 (synonyms *Erilita* Lederer, 1863, *Pleonectusa* Lederer, 1863, *Trematarcha* Meyrick, 1886)
- *[Camptomastix](/source/Camptomastix)* Warren, 1892
- *[Dichocrocis](/source/Dichocrocis)* Lederer, 1863[6] (synonym *Zebrodes* Warren, 1896; misspellings *Dichocroscis* Swinhoe & Cotes, 1889, *Dichocrosis* Janse, 1917)
- *[Dolicharthria](/source/Dolicharthria)* Stephens, 1834 (synonyms *Amaurophanes* Lederer, 1863 *Leptarchis* Meyrick, 1937, *Parastenia* Hartig, 1940, *Epistenia* Chrétien, 1911, *Stenia* Duponchel, 1845; misspelling *Dolycharthria* Stephens, 1850)
- *[Duponchelia](/source/Duponchelia)* Zeller, 1847
- *[Epherema](/source/Epherema)* Snellen, 1892
- *[Glycythyma](/source/Glycythyma)* Turner, 1908
- *[Hymenoptychis](/source/Hymenoptychis)* Zeller, 1852 (synonym *Syrbatis* Walker, 1863)
- *[Loxostegopsis](/source/Loxostegopsis)* Dyar, 1917 (misspelling *Loxotegopsis* Dyar, 1917)
- *[Metasia](/source/Metasia)* Guenée, 1854 (synonyms *Clasperia* Hartig, 1952, *Hystrixia* Hartig, 1952)
- *[Penestola](/source/Penestola)* Möschler, 1890
- *[Pseudambia](/source/Pseudambia)* D. J. L. Agassiz, 2025[13]
- *[Steniodes](/source/Steniodes)* Snellen, 1875 (synonyms *Heringiella* Berg, 1898, *Heringia* Hedemann, 1894, *Scaeocerandra* Meyrick, 1936)
- *[Symmoracma](/source/Symmoracma)* Meyrick, 1894
- *[Tatobotys](/source/Tatobotys)* Butler, 1881 (synonym *Cometura* Meyrick, 1886)

## References

1. Nuss, Matthias; Landry, Bernard; Mally, Richard; Vegliante, Francesca; Tränkner, Andreas; Bauer, Franziska; Hayden, James; Segerer, Andreas; Schouten, Rob; Li, Houhun; Trofimova, Tatiana; Solis, M. Alma; De Prins, Jurate; Speidel, Wolfgang (2003–2025). ["Global Information System on Pyraloidea (GlobIZ)"](http://www.pyraloidea.org). Retrieved 2025-07-08.

1. Guenée, M. Achille (1854). ["Deltoïdes et Pyralites"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/37754#page/11/mode/1up). *Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptères 8 8*. Boisduval, J. B. A. D. de & Guenée, M. Achille (eds.). Roret, Paris. pp. 1–448.

1. Mally, Richard; Hayden, James E.; Neinhuis, Christoph; Jordal, Bjarte H.; Nuss, Matthias (2019). ["The phylogenetic systematics of Spilomelinae and Pyraustinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) inferred from DNA and morphology"](http://www.senckenberg.de/files/content/forschung/publikationen/arthropodsystematics/asp_77_1/07_asp_77-1_mally_141-204.pdf). *Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny*. **77** (1): 141–204. [doi:10.26049/ASP77-1-2019-07](https://doi.org/10.26049/ASP77-1-2019-07). [ISSN 1863-7221](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1863-7221)

1. Hayden, James E. (2011). ["Systematics of the european pepper moth, *Duponchelia* Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae)."](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267527311). *Conference Poster, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2011*

1. Murphy, D. H. (1990). ["The natural history of insect herbivory on mangrove trees in and near Singapore"](https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/app/uploads/2017/06/Murphy1990-mangroveinsectherbivory.pdf). *Raffles Bulletin of Zoology*. **38** (2): 119–203.

1. Matsui, Yuki; Wachi, Nakatada; Yoshiyasu, Yutaka (2025). "Discovery of *Dichocrocis frenatalis* Lederer, 1863 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae) in mangrove environments of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and tribal placement of the genus". *ZooKeys*. '***(1243): 143–158. [Bibcode:2025ZooK.1243..143M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025ZooK.1243..143M). [doi:10.3897/zookeys.1243.155924](https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1243.155924). [PMC 12238983](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12238983). [PMID 40642436](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40642436)***

1. Hasenfuss, Ivar (1960). "Die Larvalsystematik der Zünsler (Pyralidae)". *Abhandlungen zur Larvalsystematik der Insekten*. **5**: 1–263.

1. Brambila, Julieta & Stocks, Ian (2010). [*The European Pepper Moth,*Duponchelia fovealis*Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a Mediterranean Pest Moth Discovered in Central Florida*](http://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/66346/1600726(Pest_Alert_-_The_European_Pepper_Moth_-_Duponchelia_fovealis.pdf). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. pp. 1–4.

1. Leraut, Patrice (2012). *Moths of Europe, Zygaenids, Pyralids 1 and Brachodids*. Verrières-le-Buisson, France: N.A.P. Editions. p. 599.

1. Hiremath, I. G.; Vastard, S.; Patil, S. J. (1990). "*Lamprosema charesalis* (Walker) (Ledidoptera: Pyraustidae), a new pest of turmeric, *Curcuma domestica* Val. in India". *Tropical Pest Management*. **36** (1): 74. [doi:10.1080/09670879009371440](https://doi.org/10.1080/09670879009371440)

1. Paine, R. W. (1964). "The banana scab moth, *Nacoleia octasema* (Meyrick): its distribution, ecology and control". *South Pacific Commission Technical Paper*. **145**: i–vi, 1–70.

1. Hinckley, A. D. (1964). "Ecological notes on the larvae of some pyraloid moths in Fiji". *Pacific Insects, Honolulu*. **6** (2): 234–241.

1. Agassiz, David J. L. (2025). ["A new genus of Spilomelinae in Africa (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea, Crambidae)"](https://metamorphosis.org.za/articlesPDF/1778/2025.04.21%20Metamorphosis%2036%2011-16%20Agassiz%20Pseudambia.pdf). *Metamorphosis*. **36**: 11–16. [doi:10.4314/met.v36i1.3](https://doi.org/10.4314/met.v36i1.3)

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