A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE ASKOLDELLA SPECIES-GROUP OF THE GENUS NEMOPHORA HOFFMANNSEGG (LEPIDOPTERA, ADELIDAE)

A group of externally very similar, grey species of the genus Nemophor a Hoffmannsegg, whose females possess a brush of dark scales at the mi ddle of their antenna, is revised. Five species of this group, all dis tributed in South-East Asia, are recognized: N. griseella (Walsingham) sp. rev. [= cyphozona (Meyrick) syn. n.; = tricrates (Meyrick) syn. n .] from India, Burma and Nepal; N. ichnodesma (Meyrick) comb. n. from India and W Malaysia; N. cassiterites (Meyrick) comb. n. from India on ly; N. askoldella (Milliere) [= irroratella (Christoph); = niphites (M eyrick) syn. n.] from China, S Korea, Japan, Khabarovsk and Primorye r egions of Russia; N. chionites (Meyrick) comb. n. from India and Thail and. Data on all primary types are provided; lectotypes are designated where necessary. The monophyly of the group and the relationships of its species are discussed. Keys to species based on external character s and male genitalia are provided; adults and male genitalia are descr ibed and illustrated.