Moths of the genus Emphylica Turner, 1913 resemble species of Achyra Guenée, 1849, Loxostege Hübner, 1825 and Sitochroa Hübner, 1825 in having a conical frons. In order to examine the monophyly of Emphylica, and its relationship to other genera with a conical frons, a molecular phylogenetic framework is reconstructed based on sequence data of COI, 16S rRNA, 28S rRNA, EF-1α and Wg gene regions. The results robustly support the monophyly of Emphylica. Achyra + (Loxostege + Sitochroa) is in a sister position to Emphylica. A new species, E.crassihamata sp. n., is described from Southern China and two new combinations, E.diaphana (Caradja & Meyrick, 1934), comb. n. and E.cruoralis (Warren, 1895), comb. n., are proposed. An identification key based on males is provided for all Emphylica species. The adult habitus and genitalia of all species are figured.
Keywords: Achyra; Loxostege; Sitochroa; China; conical frons; molecular phylogeny; new combinations; new species.