Synchlorini

Small to medium sized species; wings broad and rounded (Synchlora), or somewhat lengthened, with forewing bluntly pointed and costa almost straight (Cheteoscelis, Merochlora); green pigment bright, apparently the same as in the Nemoriini, unlike that of the Hemitheini. Venation of costal area of forewing unusually well spaced for the following reasons: 1) Sc and R₁, or R₁ and R₂ often unite so that only four instead of five veins are left to meet costa, 2) Sc––R₄ bend toward costa sooner than they do in other tribes, 3) space separating C from R slightly wider than usual. Hindwing with Sc and R fused where they come together (joined for at least half length of cell in Cheteoscelis and Merochlora); third anal of hindwing nearly always entirely wanting; frenulum present in male, replaced by a tuft of bristles or wanting in female.

In male genitalia, uncus without the usual long process, having only the small basal portion to which are articulated the pointed, sclerotized but usually moveable socii; gnathos a normal, toothed ring in most species but sometimes incomplete (e.g., in S. cupedinaria); valve simple; aedeagus sclerotized in a manner diagnostic for the tribe: viewed dorsally or ventrally, it is seen to consist of two slender, rigid prongs arising from a short proximal stem, the shape suggesting that of a musician's tuning fork; prongs commonly simple, sometimes dentate; eighth sternite simple, shallowly emarginate. Female genitalia very simple, with or without slight sclerotization of ductus bursae; signum present or wanting.

Larva characteristic in structure and habits, with little variation among the three genera. The dorsolateral protuberances, so highly developed in the Nemoriini, are present, but are half the size or less, forming only rounded or pointed humps. They are also adapted for a different purpose. In the Synchlorini each protuberance ends in an enlarged, spine-like tubercle that bears small hooks. To these the larva attaches fragments of plant material from the host as a means of concealment. The Synchlorini, like some Hemitheini, tend to be flower feeders on Compositae.