An overview of the African flannel moths (Somabrachyidae) (Zygaenoidea : Lepidoptera), including their putative relationships

The Somabrachyidae consist of the following genera: Somabrachy; Kirby confined to northern Africa and Spain, Psycharium Herrich-Schaffer and Parapsycharium Geertsema endemic to South Africa and possibly Boisduvalodes Viette from Madagascar. The family is poorly known and research over the past decade has revealed more South African taxa. A historical review of the familial placement of Somabrachys and Psycharium indicates considerable confusion, often with Unsubstantiated subjective allocation. Based on some characters of phylogenetic importance, the relationship, of and within the Somabrachyidae are briefly discussed. The classificatory part includes references to familial descriptions, diagnostic features of Somabrachyidae and a description of the various life stages, the latter section largely based on S. aegrotus, supplemented by Psycharium, Parapsycharium and other undescribed taxa from South Africa.