![Prodryas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Prodryas.png)
Prehistoric Lepidoptera are both
butterflies
Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...
and
moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...
s that lived before
recorded history
Recorded history or written history describes the historical events that have been recorded in a written form or other documented communication which are subsequently evaluated by historians using the historical method. For broader world hist ...
. The fossil record for
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
is lacking in comparison to other winged species, and tending not to be as common as some other insects in the habitats that are most conducive to
fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
ization, such as lakes and ponds, and their
juvenile stage has only the head capsule as a hard part that might be preserved. Yet there are fossils, some preserved in
amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin that has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Much valued from antiquity to the present as a gemstone, amber is made into a variety of decorative objects."Amber" (2004). In Ma ...
and some in very fine sediments.
Leaf mines are also seen in fossil leaves, although the interpretation of them is tricky.
Putative fossil stem group representatives of
Amphiesmenoptera
Amphiesmenoptera is an insect superorder, established by S. G. Kiriakoff, but often credited to Willi Hennig in his revision of insect taxonomy for two sister orders: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and Trichoptera (caddisflies). In 2017, a t ...
(the clade comprising Trichoptera and Lepidoptera) are known from the
Triassic
The Triassic ( ) is a geologic period and system which spans 50.6 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.902 million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.36 Mya. The Triassic is the first and shortest period ...
.
Previously, the earliest known lepidopteran fossils were three wings of ''
Archaeolepis mane'', a primitive moth-like
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
from the
Jurassic
The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The J ...
, about , found in
Dorset
Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...
,
UK, which show scales with parallel grooves under a scanning electron microscope and a characteristic wing venation pattern shared with
Trichoptera
The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most of which can be divided into the suborders Integripalpia and Annulipalpia on the b ...
(caddisflies).
In 2018, the discovery of exquisite fossilised scales from the
Triassic-Jurassic boundary were reported in the journal
Science Advances
''Science Advances'' is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary open-access scientific journal established in early 2015 and published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The journal's scope includes all areas of science, incl ...
. They were found as rare
palynological
Palynology is the "study of dust" (from grc-gre, παλύνω, palynō, "strew, sprinkle" and ''-logy'') or of "particles that are strewn". A classic palynologist analyses particulate samples collected from the air, from water, or from deposit ...
elements in the sediments of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary from the cored Schandelah-1 well, drilled near
Braunschweig
Braunschweig () or Brunswick ( , from Low German ''Brunswiek'' , Braunschweig dialect: ''Bronswiek'') is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, north of the Harz Mountains at the farthest navigable point of the river Oker, which connects it to the Nor ...
in northern
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. This pushes back the fossil record and origin of
glossata
Glossata (Fabricius, 1775) is the suborder of the insect order Lepidoptera that contains most lepidopteran species and includes all the superfamilies of moths and butterflies that have a coilable proboscis. (See also the suborders Zeugloptera, A ...
n lepidopterans by about 70 million years, supporting molecular estimates of a
Norian
The Norian is a division of the Triassic Period. It has the rank of an age (geochronology) or stage (chronostratigraphy). It lasted from ~227 to million years ago. It was preceded by the Carnian and succeeded by the Rhaetian.
Stratigraphic defi ...
(c. 212 million years) divergence of glossatan and non-glossatan lepidopterans. The authors of the study proposed that lepidopterans evolved a proboscis as an adaptation to drink
from droplets and thin films of water for maintaining
fluid balance
Fluid balance is an aspect of the homeostasis of organisms in which the amount of water in the organism needs to be controlled, via osmoregulation and behavior, such that the concentrations of electrolytes (salts in solution) in the various body ...
in the hot and arid
climate
Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologic ...
of the
Triassic
The Triassic ( ) is a geologic period and system which spans 50.6 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.902 million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.36 Mya. The Triassic is the first and shortest period ...
.
Only two more sets of Jurassic lepidopteran fossils have been found, as well as 13 sets from the
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of th ...
, which all belong to primitive moth-like families.
Many more fossils are found from the
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic ( ; ) is Earth's current geological era, representing the last 66million years of Earth's history. It is characterised by the dominance of mammals, birds and flowering plants, a cooling and drying climate, and the current configura ...
, and particularly the
Eocene
The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...
Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than 1 ...
. The oldest genuine butterflies of the superfamily Papilionoidea have been found in the Early
Eocene
The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...
(
Ypresian
In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age (geology), age or lowest stage (stratigraphy), stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between , is preceded by the Thanetian Age (part of the Paleocene) and is followed by th ...
)
MoClay or
Fur Formation
The Fur Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian (Lower Eocene Epoch, c. 56.0-54.5 Ma) age which crops out in the Limfjord region of Denmark from Silstrup via Mors and Fur to Ertebølle, and can be seen in many cliffs and quarries in ...
of
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
. The best preserved fossil lepidopteran is considered to be the Eocene ''
Prodryas persephone
''Prodryas persephone'' is an extinct species of brush-footed butterfly, known from a single specimen from the Chadronian-aged Florissant Shale Lagerstatte of Late Eocene Colorado. ''P. persephone'' is the first fossil butterfly to be found in ...
'' from the
Florissant Fossil Beds
The Florissant Formation is a sedimentary geologic formation outcropping around Florissant, Teller County, Colorado. The formation is noted for the abundant and exceptionally preserved insect and plant fossils that are found in the mudstones and ...
.
Phylogeny
![Phylogenetic chart of Lepidoptera](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Phylogenetic_chart_of_Lepidoptera.svg)
Lepidoptera and
Trichoptera
The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most of which can be divided into the suborders Integripalpia and Annulipalpia on the b ...
(caddisflies) are more closely related to one another than to any other taxa, sharing many similarities that are lacking in other insect orders; for example the females of both orders are
heterogametic
Heterogametic sex (digametic sex) refers to the individuals of a species in which the sex chromosomes are not the same.
For example, in humans, males with an X and a Y sex chromosome would be referred to as the heterogametic sex, and females ...
, meaning they have two different
sex chromosomes
A sex chromosome (also referred to as an allosome, heterotypical chromosome, gonosome, heterochromosome, or idiochromosome) is a chromosome that differs from an ordinary autosome in form, size, and behavior. The human sex chromosomes, a typical ...
, whereas in most species the males are heterogametic and the females have two identical sex chromosomes. The adults in both orders display a particular wing venation pattern on their forewings. The larvae of both orders have mouth structures and a gland with which they make and manipulate
silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the coc ...
.
Willi Hennig
Emil Hans Willi Hennig (20 April 1913 – 5 November 1976) was a Germans, German biologist and zoologist who is considered the founder of Phylogenesis, phylogenetic systematics, otherwise known as cladistics. In 1945 as a POWs in World War II, p ...
grouped the two orders into the
Amphiesmenoptera
Amphiesmenoptera is an insect superorder, established by S. G. Kiriakoff, but often credited to Willi Hennig in his revision of insect taxonomy for two sister orders: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and Trichoptera (caddisflies). In 2017, a t ...
superorder; they are sisters, and together are sister to the extinct order
Tarachoptera
Tarachoptera is an extinct order of insects, currently solely known from the mid Cretaceous aged Burmese amber. It belongs to Amphiesmenoptera alongside living Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) and Trichoptera (caddiesflies), but is outside t ...
.
Micropterigidae
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...
,
Agathiphagidae
''Agathiphaga'' is a genus of moths, known as kauri moths. It is the only living in the family Agathiphagidae. This caddisfly-like lineage of primitive moths was first reported by Lionel Jack Dumbleton in 1952, as a new genus of Micropterigidae ...
and
Heterobathmiidae
''Heterobathmia'' is a genus of Lepidoptera. It is the only genus in the suborder Heterobathmiina, as well as in the superfamily Heterobathmioidea and in the family Heterobathmiidae. Primitive, day-flying, metallic moths confined to southern So ...
are the oldest and most
basal lineages of Lepidoptera. The adults of these families do not have the curled tongue or
proboscis
A proboscis () is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In invertebrates, the term usually refers to tubular mouthparts used for feeding and sucking. In vertebrates, a proboscis is an elong ...
, that are found in most members order, but instead have chewing
mandibles
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower tooth, teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movabl ...
adapted for a special diet. Micropterigidae larvae feed on
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
,
fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
, or
liverworts
The Marchantiophyta () are a division of non-vascular land plants commonly referred to as hepatics or liverworts. Like mosses and hornworts, they have a gametophyte-dominant life cycle, in which cells of the plant carry only a single set of ge ...
(much like the
Trichoptera
The caddisflies, or order Trichoptera, are a group of insects with aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults. There are approximately 14,500 described species, most of which can be divided into the suborders Integripalpia and Annulipalpia on the b ...
).
Adult Micropterigidae chew the pollen or spores of ferns. In the Agathiphagidae, larvae live inside
kauri pines and feed on seeds. In Heterobathmiidae the larvae feed on the leaves of ''
Nothofagus
''Nothofagus'', also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 43 species of trees and shrubs native to the Southern Hemisphere in southern South America (Chile, Argentina) and Australasia (east and southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Gui ...
'', the southern beech tree. These families also have mandibles in the pupal stage, which help the pupa emerge from the seed or cocoon after
metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops including birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Some inse ...
.
The
Eriocraniidae
Eriocraniidae is a family of moths restricted to the Holarctic region, with six extant genera. These small, metallic moths are usually day-flying, emerging fairly early in the northern temperate spring. They have a proboscis with which they drin ...
have a short coiled proboscis in the adult stage, and though they retain their pupal mandibles with which they escaped the cocoon, their mandibles are non-functional thereafter.
Most of these non-ditrysian families, are primarily
leaf miner
A leaf miner is any one of numerous species of insects in which the larval stage lives in, and eats, the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths (Lepidoptera), sawflies (Symphyta, the mother clade of wasps), ...
s in the larval stage. In addition to the proboscis, there is a change in the scales among these basal lineages, with later lineages showing more complex perforated scales.
With the evolution of the
Ditrysia
The Ditrysia are a natural group or clade of insects in the lepidopteran order containing both butterflies and moths. They are so named because the female has two distinct sexual openings: one for mating, and the other for laying eggs (in contra ...
in the mid-Cretaceous, there was a major reproductive change. The Ditrysia, which comprise 98% of the Lepidoptera, have two separate openings for reproduction in the females (as well as a third opening for excretion), one for mating, and one for laying eggs. The two are linked internally by a seminal duct. (In more basal lineages there is one
cloaca
In animal anatomy, a cloaca ( ), plural cloacae ( or ), is the posterior orifice that serves as the only opening for the digestive, reproductive, and urinary tracts (if present) of many vertebrate animals. All amphibians, reptiles and birds, a ...
, or later, two openings and an external sperm canal.) Of the early lineages of Ditrysia,
Gracillarioidea
Gracillarioidea is a large superfamily containing four families of insects in the order Lepidoptera. These generally small moths are miners in plant tissue as caterpillars. There are about 113 described genera distributed worldwide, the most comm ...
and
Gelechioidea
__NOTOC__
Gelechioidea (from the type genus ''Gelechia'', "keeping to the ground") is the superfamily of moths that contains the case-bearers, twirler moths, and relatives, also simply called curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths. It is a large a ...
are mostly leaf miners, but more recent lineages feed externally. In the
Tineoidea
Tineoidea is the ditrysian superfamily of moths that includes clothes moths, Bagworm moth, bagworms and relatives. There are six families usually included within it, Eriocottidae, Arrhenophanidae, Lypusidae, Acrolophidae, Tineidae and Psychidae, ...
, most species feed on plant and animal detritus and fungi, and build shelters in the larval stage.
The
Yponomeutoidea
Yponomeutoidea is a superfamily of ermine moths and relatives. There are about 1,800 species of Yponomeutoids worldwide, most of them known to come from temperate regions. This superfamily is one of the earliest groups to evolve external feeding ...
is the first group to have significant numbers of species whose larvae feed on herbaceous plants, as opposed to woody plants.
They evolved about the time that flowering plants underwent an expansive
adaptive radiation
In evolutionary biology, adaptive radiation is a process in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, alters biotic int ...
in the mid-
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of th ...
, and the Gelechioidea that evolved at this time also have great diversity. Whether the processes involved
co-evolution
In biology, coevolution occurs when two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution through the process of natural selection. The term sometimes is used for two traits in the same species affecting each other's evolution, as well ...
or sequential evolution, the diversity of the Lepidoptera and the angiosperms increased together.
In the so-called "
macrolepidoptera
Macrolepidoptera is a group within the insect order Lepidoptera. Traditionally used for the larger butterflies and moths as opposed to the "microlepidoptera", this group is artificial. However, it seems that by moving some taxa about, a monoph ...
", which constitutes about 60% of lepidopteran species, there was a general increase in size, better flying ability (via changes in wing shape and linkage of the forewings and hindwings), reduction in the adult mandibles, and a change in the arrangement of the crochets (hooks) on the larval prolegs, perhaps to improve the grip on the host plant.
Many also have
tympanal organ
A tympanal organ (or tympanic organ) is a hearing organ in insects, consisting of a membrane ( tympanum) stretched across a frame backed by an air sac and associated sensory neurons. Sounds vibrate the membrane, and the vibrations are sensed by ...
s, that allow them to hear. These organs evolved eight times, at least, because they occur on different body parts and have structural differences.
The main lineages in the macrolepidoptera are the
Noctuoidea
Noctuoidea is the superfamily of noctuid (Latin "night owl") or "owlet" moths, and has more than 70,000 described species, the largest number of for any Lepidopteran superfamily. Its classification has not yet reached a satisfactory or stable st ...
,
Bombycoidea
Bombycoidea is a superfamily of moths. It contains the silk moths, emperor moths, sphinx moths, and relatives. The Lasiocampoidea
The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, tent caterpillars, snout moths (although this also ...
,
Lasiocampidae
The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, tent caterpillars, snout moths (although this also refers to the Pyralidae), or lappet moths. Over 2,000 species occur worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied. It i ...
,
Mimallonoidea
Mimallonidae Burmeister (mimallonids), sometimes known as "sack-bearer" moths for the larval case-building behavior, are a family of Lepidoptera containing over 300 named species in 43 genera. These moths are found only in the New World, with mos ...
,
Geometroidea
The Geometroidea are the superfamily of geometrid moths in the order Lepidoptera. It includes the families Geometridae, Uraniidae, Epicopeiidae, Sematuridae, and the recently established family Pseudobistonidae.
The monotypic genus ''Apoprogones
...
and
Rhopalocera
Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprises ...
. Bombycoidea plus Lasiocampidae plus Mimallonoidea may be a
monophyletic
In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...
group.
The Rhopalocera, comprising the
Papilionoidea
The superfamily Papilionoidea (from the genus ''Papilio'', meaning "butterfly") contains all the butterflies except for the moth-like Hedyloidea.
The members of the Papilionoidea may be distinguished by the following combination of characters: ...
(butterflies),
Hesperioidea (skippers), and the
Hedyloidea
Hedylidae, the "American moth-butterflies", is a Family (biology), family of insects in the order Lepidoptera, representing the superfamily Hedyloidea. They have traditionally been viewed as an Extant taxon, extant sister group of the butterfly s ...
(moth-butterflies), are the most recently evolved.
There is quite a good fossil record for this group, with the oldest skipper dating from .
Fossil Lepidoptera taxa
This is a list of all described fossil Lepidoptera species.
Taxa
In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular nam ...
marked with † are extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
Superfamily
Bombycoidea
Bombycoidea is a superfamily of moths. It contains the silk moths, emperor moths, sphinx moths, and relatives. The Lasiocampoidea
The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, tent caterpillars, snout moths (although this also ...
Family
Saturniidae
Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor moths, royal moths, and gi ...
*''
Rothschildia
''Rothschildia'' is a genus of moths in the family (biology), family Saturniidae first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1896.
Species are found in North America and South America from the United States to Argentina.
Species
*''Rothschil ...
''
Grote, 1896
**†''
Rothschildia fossilis''
Cockerell, 1914 (originally in Attacus)
Family
Sphingidae
The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera) called sphinx moths, also colloquially known as hawk moths, with many of their caterpillars known as “hornworms”; it includes about 1,450 species. It is best represented in the tropics, bu ...
*†''
Mioclanis''
Zhang, Sun & Zhang, 1994
**†''
Mioclanis shanwangiana''
Zhang, Sun & Zhang, 1994
*†''
Sphingidites''
Kernbach, 1967
**†''
Sphingidites weidneri''
Kernbach, 1967
Superfamily
Copromorphoidea
Copromorphoidea, the "fruitworm moths", is a superfamily of insects
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exos ...
Family
Copromorphidae
Copromorphidae, the "tropical fruitworm moths", is a family of insects in the lepidopteran order. These moths have broad, rounded forewings, and well-camouflaged scale patterns. Unlike Carposinidae the mouthparts include "labial palps" with ...
*''
Copromorpha''
Meyrick, 1886
**†''
Copromorpha fossilis''
Jarzembowski, 1980
Superfamily
Cossoidea
Cossoidea is the superfamily of moths that includes carpenter moths and relatives. Like their likely sister group Sesioidea they are internal feeders and have spiny pupae with moveable segments to allow them to extrude out of their exit holes in ...
Family
Cossidae
The Cossidae, the cossid millers or carpenter millers, make up a family (biology), family of mostly large Miller (moth), miller moths. This family contains over 110 genera with almost 700 known species, and many more species await description. ...
*†''
Adelopsyche
''Adelopsyche'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Psychidae. The single species, ''Adelopsyche frustans'', was found in the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado, United States. The fossil is dated to the Late Eocene
T ...
''
Cockerell, 1926
**†''
Adelopsyche frustrans''
Cockerell, 1926 (Colorado, Florissant)
*†''
Gurnetia''
Cockerell, 1921
**†''
Gurnetia durranti''
Cockerell, 1921 (Isle of Wight)
Superfamily †
Eolepidopterigoidea
Eolepidopterigoidea is an extinct superfamily of moths, containing the single family Eolepidopterigidae, although the genus ''Undopterix'' is sometimes placed in a separate family Undopterigidae. The type-genus of the family is '' Eolepidopterix' ...
Family †
Eolepidopterigidae
Eolepidopterigoidea is an extinct superfamily of moths, containing the single family Eolepidopterigidae, although the genus ''Undopterix'' is sometimes placed in a separate family Undopterigidae. The type-genus of the family is ''Eolepidopterix'' ...
*†''
Daiopterix
''Daiopterix'' is an extinct genus of moth within the family Eolepidopterigidae, containing two species. ''Daiopterix rasnitsyni'' is known from Kazakhstan. The fossil remains date from the Jurassic.
The second species, ''Daiopterix olgae'', is ...
''
Skalski, 1984
**†''
Daiopterix rasnitsyni''
Skalski, 1984
**†''
Daiopterix olgae''
Kozlov, 1989
*†''
Eolepidopterix
''Eolepidopterix'' is an extinct genus of moths within the family Eolepidopterigidae, containing one species, ''Eolepidopterix jurassica'', which is known from Russia. The fossil remains are dated to the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous.
Referen ...
''
Rasnitsyn, 1983
**''
Eolepidopterix jurassica''
Rasnitsyn, 1983
*''
Gracilepteryx
''Gracilepteryx'' is an extinct genus of moths within the family Eolepidopterigidae, containing one species, ''Gracilepteryx pulchra'', which is known from the Late Aptian Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin in northeastern Brazil
Brazi ...
''
Martins-Neto & Vulcano, 1989
**†''
Gracilepteryx pulchra''
Martins-Neto & Vulcano, 1989
*†''
Netoxena
''Netoxena'' is an extinct genus of moths within the family Eolepidopterigidae, containing one species, ''Netoxena nana'', which is known from the Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin in northeastern Brazil. Its generic name was originally ''Xen ...
''
Sohn ''in'' Sohn ''et al.'', 2012
**†''
Netoxena nana''
(Martins-Neto, 1999)
*†''
Psamateia
''Psamateia'' is an extinct genus of moths within the family Eolepidopterigidae, containing one species, ''Psamateia calipsa'', which is known from the Crato Formation in Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic o ...
''
Martins-Neto, 2002
**†''
Psamateia calipsa''
Martins-Neto, 2002
*†''
Undopterix
''Undopterix'' is an extinct genus of moths within the family Eolepidopterigidae, containing two species. ''Undopterix sukatshevae'' is known from Russia. The fossil remains are dated to the Lower Cretaceous.
The second species, ''Undopterix ca ...
''
Skalski, 1979 (sometimes in Undopterigidae Kozlov, 1988)
**†''
Undopterix sukatshevae''
Skalski, 1979
**†''
Undopterix cariensis''
Martins-Neto & Vulcano, 1989
Superfamily
Eriocranioidea
Eriocraniidae is a family of moths restricted to the Holarctic region, with six extant genera. These small, metallic moths are usually day-flying, emerging fairly early in the northern temperate spring. They have a proboscis with which they drin ...
Family
Eriocraniidae
Eriocraniidae is a family of moths restricted to the Holarctic region, with six extant genera. These small, metallic moths are usually day-flying, emerging fairly early in the northern temperate spring. They have a proboscis with which they drin ...
*†''
Eriocranites
''Eriocranites'' is an extinct genus of moth in the family Elachistidae. It contains only one species, ''Eriocranites hercynicus'', which was described from Willershausen in Germany. It is dated to the Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleio ...
''
Kernbach, 1967
**†''
Eriocranites hercynicus''
Kernbach, 1967
Superfamily
Gelechioidea
__NOTOC__
Gelechioidea (from the type genus ''Gelechia'', "keeping to the ground") is the superfamily of moths that contains the case-bearers, twirler moths, and relatives, also simply called curved-horn moths or gelechioid moths. It is a large a ...
Family
Autostichidae
Autostichidae is a family of moths in the moth superfamily Gelechioidea.
Subfamilies
*Autostichinae Le Marchand, 1947
* Deocloninae Hodges, 1998
* Glyphidocerinae Hodges, 1998
*Holcopogoninae Gozmány, 1967
* Oegoconiinae Leraut, 1992
*Symmocinae ...
*†''
Symmocites
''Symmocites'' is an extinct moth genus in the family Autostichidae. It contains the species ''Symmocites rohdendorfi'', which was described from Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic a ...
''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Symmocites rohdendorfi''
Kusnezov, 1941
Family
Elachistidae
The Elachistidae (grass-miner moths) are a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. Some authors lump about 3,300 species in eight subfamilies here, but this arrangement almost certainly results in a massively paraphyletic and co ...
*†''
Elachistites''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Elachistites inclusus''
Kozlov, 1987 (Baltic region, Eocene)
**†''
Elachistites sukatshevae''
Kozlov, 1987 (Baltic region, Eocene)
Family
Ethmiidae
The Ethmiinae are a subfamily of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea sometimes included in the Elachistidae or the Oecophoridae, but mostly in the Depressariidae as a subfamily Ethmiinae.Wikispecies (2009-JUN-29), and see references in ...
*''
Ethmia
''Ethmia'' is a large genus of small moths. It is the type genus of the gelechioid family Ethmiidae, which is sometimes included in Elachistidae or Oecophoridae as subfamily.
Selected species
Species of ''Ethmia'' include:See references in Savel ...
''
Hübner, 819
__NOTOC__
Year 819 (Roman numerals, DCCCXIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* Spring – Emperor Louis the Pious, Louis I marries Judith ...
/small>
**†'' Ethmia mortuella'' Scudder, 1890 (Colorado, Florissant)
Family
Oecophoridae
Oecophoridae (concealer moths) is a family of small moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. The phylogeny and systematics of gelechoid moths are still not fully resolved, and the circumscription of the Oecophoridae is strongly affected by this.
Ta ...
*†''
Borkhausenites''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Borkhausenites angustipenella''
Rebel, 1935
**†''
Borkhausenites bachofeni''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Borkhausenites crassella''
Rebel, 1935
**†''
Borkhausenites implicatella''
Rebel, 1935
**†''
Borkhausenites incolumella''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Borkhausenites ingentella''
Rebel, 1935
**†''
Borkhausenites vulneratella''
Rebel, 1935
*†''
Depressarites''
Rebel, 1936
**†''
Depressarites blastuliferella''
Rebel, 1935
**†''
Depressarites levipalpella''
Rebel, 1935
*†''
Epiborkhausenites''
Skalski, 1973 (
Bartonian
The Bartonian is, in the ICS's geologic time scale, a stage or age in the middle Eocene Epoch or Series. The Bartonian Age spans the time between . It is preceded by the Lutetian and is followed by the Priabonian Age.
Stratigraphic definitio ...
,
Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than 1 ...
, Lithuania)
**†''Epiborkhausenites obscurotrimaculatus''
Skalski, 1973
*†''
Glesseumeyrickia''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Glesseumeyrickia henrikseni''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Hexerites''
Cockerell, 1933 (originally in Thyrididae)
**†''
Hexerites primalis''
Cockerell, 1933
*†''
Microsymmocites''
Skalski, 1977
**†''
Microsymmocites''
Skalski, 1977
*†''
Neoborkhausenites''
Skalski, 1977
**†''
Neoborkhausenites incertella''
(Rebel, 1935) (originally in Borkhausenites)
*†''
Palaeodepressaria''
Skalski, 1979
**†''
Palaeodepressaria hannemanni''
Skalski, 1979
**†''
Paraborkhausenites''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Paraborkhausenites innominatus''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Paraborkhausenites vicinella''
(Rebel, 1935) (originally in Borkhausenites)
Family
Symmocidae
The Symmocinae are a subfamily of moths in the superfamily Gelechioidea. These small moths are found mainly in the Palearctic and Africa.
In modern treatments, they are usually united with the concealer moth family Autostichidae.
History of clas ...
*†''
Oegoconiites
''Oegoconiites'' is an extinct moth genus in the family Autostichidae. It contains the species ''Oegoconiites borisjaki'', which was described from Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic ...
''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Oegoconiites borisjaki''
Kusnezov, 1941 (Baltic region, Oligocene amber)
Superfamily
Geometroidea
The Geometroidea are the superfamily of geometrid moths in the order Lepidoptera. It includes the families Geometridae, Uraniidae, Epicopeiidae, Sematuridae, and the recently established family Pseudobistonidae.
The monotypic genus ''Apoprogones
...
Family
Geometridae
The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''met ...
*†''
Geometridites
''Geometridites'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Geometridae
The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the An ...
''
Clark et al., 1971
**†''
Geometridites jordani
''Geometridites'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Geometridae
The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the An ...
''
Kernbach, 1967 (Willershausen, Pliocene)
**†''
Geometridites larentiiformis
''Geometridites'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Geometridae. The genus was erected by Clark et al. in 1971.
Species
* †''Geometridites jordani
''Geometridites'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Geometridae
The ge ...
''
Jarzembowski, 1980
**†''
Geometridites repens
''Geometridites'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Geometridae
The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the An ...
''
Kernbach, 1967
*''
Hydriomena
''Hydriomena'' is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae described by Jacob Hübner in 1825.
Species
* '' Hydriomena albifasciata'' (Packard, 1874)
* '' Hydriomena albimontanata'' McDunnough, 1939
* '' Hydriomena arida'' (Butler, 1879)
* '' ...
''
Hübner, (1825)
**†''
Hydriomena? protrita
''Hydriomena''? ''protrita'' is an extinct species of moth in the family Geometridae, and possibly in the modern genus '' Hydriomena''. The species is known from late Eocene, Priabonian stage, lake deposits of the Florissant Formation in Teller ...
''
Cockerell, 1922 (
Priabonian
The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between . The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage of t ...
,
Florissant Formation
The Florissant Formation is a sedimentary geologic formation outcropping around Florissant, Teller County, Colorado. The formation is noted for the abundant and exceptionally preserved insect and plant fossils that are found in the mudstones and ...
, Colorado)
Superfamily
Gracillarioidea
Gracillarioidea is a large superfamily containing four families of insects in the order Lepidoptera. These generally small moths are miners in plant tissue as caterpillars. There are about 113 described genera distributed worldwide, the most comm ...
Family
Bucculatricidae
Bucculatricidae or (Bucculatrigidae) is a family of moths. This small family has representatives in all parts of the world. Some authors place the group as a subfamily of the family Lyonetiidae.
Adults of this family are easily overlooked, bein ...
*''
Bucculatrix
Bucculatricidae or (Bucculatrigidae) is a family of moths. This small family has representatives in all parts of the world. Some authors place the group as a subfamily of the family Lyonetiidae.
Adults of this family are easily overlooked, being ...
''
Zeller, 1839
**†''
Bucculatrix platani''
Kozlov, 1988 (Kazakhstan, Late Cretaceous)
Family
Gracillariidae
Gracillariidae is an important family of insects in the order Lepidoptera and the principal family of leaf miners that includes several economic, horticultural or recently invasive pest species such as the horse-chestnut leaf miner, ''Cameraria ...
*†''
Gracillariites''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Gracillariites lithuanicus''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Gracillariites mixtus''
Kozlov, 1987
*Two undescribed ''
Phyllocnistis
''Phyllocnistis'' is a genus of moths in the family Gracillariidae.
Description Adult
Adults of the genus ''Phyllocnistis'' are very small moths with wingspans generally not exceeding 5 mm. Both fore- and hindwings are lanceolate and predo ...
'' species
*One undescribed ''
Lithocolletis'' species
Superfamily
Hepialoidea
The Hepialoidea are the superfamily of "ghost moths" and "swift moths".
Fossils
Fossil Hepialoidea appear to be few. ''Prohepialus'' (possibly Hepialidae) has been described from the about 35-million-year-old Bembridge marls of Isle of Wight. ...
Family
Hepialidae
The Hepialidae are a family of insects in the lepidopteran order. Moths of this family are often referred to as swift moths or ghost moths.
Taxonomy and systematics
The Hepialidae constitute by far the most diverse group of the infraorder Exopo ...
*†''
Oiophassus''
J. F. Zhang, 1989
**†''
Oiophassus nycterus''
Zhang, 1989
*†''
Prohepialus''
Piton, 1940
**†''
Prohepialus incertus''
Piton, 1940 (Menat, France, Cenozoic)
*†''
Protohepialus''
Pierce, 1945
**†''
Protohepialus comstocki''
Pierce, 1945
Superfamily
Adeloidea
Adeloidea is a superfamily of primitive monotrysian moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are th ...
Family
Adelidae
The Adelidae or fairy longhorn moths are a family of monotrysian moths in the lepidopteran infraorder Heteroneura. The family was first described by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1851. Most species have at least partially metallic patter ...
*''
Adela
Adela may refer to:
* ''Adela'', a 1933 Romanian novel by Garabet Ibrăileanu
* ''Adela'' (1985 film), a 1985 Romanian film directed by Mircea Veroiu
* ''Adela'' (2000 film), a 2000 Argentine thriller film directed and written by Eduardo Mign ...
''
Latreille, 1796
**†''
Adela kuznetzovi''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Adela similis''
Kozlov, 1987
*†''
Adelites''
Rebel 1934
**†''
Adelites electrella''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Adelites purpurascens''
Rebel, 1935
**†''
Adelites serraticornella''
Rebel, 1935
**An undescribed †''
Adelites'' species
Family
Incurvariidae
Incurvariidae is a family of small primitive monotrysian moths in the order Lepidoptera. There are twelve genera recognised (Davis, 1999). Many species are leaf miners and much is known of their host plants, excluding ''Paraclemensia acerifoliell ...
*†''
Incurvarites
''Incurvarites'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Incurvariidae. It was described by Rebel in 1934, and contains the species ''Incurvarites alienella''. The fossil was found in Baltic amber and is dated to Lutetian, Middle Eocene.
Ref ...
''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Incurvarites alienella''
Rebel, 1934
*†''
Prophalonia
''Prophalonia'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Incurvariidae. It was described by Rebel in 1936, and contained the species ''P. acutitarsella'' and ''P. gigas''. ''P. acutitarsellus'' was later transferred to '' Adelites''.
Taxonomy
...
''
Rebel, 1936 (originally placed in Tortricidae)
**†''
Prophalonia gigas''
Rebel, 1935
**†''
Prophalonia scutitarsella''
Rebel, 1935
Superfamily
Micropterigoidea
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...
Family
Micropterigidae
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about twenty living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of lepidoptera (Kristense ...
*†''
Auliepterix''
Kozlov, 1989
**†''
Auliepterix minima''
Kozlov, 1989
**†''
Auliepterix mirabilis''
Kozlov, 1989
*†''
Baltimartyria''
Skalski, 1995
**†''
Baltimartyria rasnitsyni''
Mey, 2011
**†''
Baltimartyria proavitella''
(Rebel, 1936)
*''
Micropterix
''Micropterix'' is a genus of small primitive metallic moths, in the insect order (biology), order lepidoptera within the family (biology), family Micropterigidae. The name was Species description, raised by the German entomologist, Jacob Hübne ...
''
Hübner, 1825
**†''
Micropterix anglica''
Jarzembowski, 1980
**†''
Micropterix gertraudae''
Kurz M. A & M. E. Kurz, 2010
**†''
Micropterix immensipalpa''
(Kusnezov, 1941) (sometimes placed in Eriocraniidae as ''Electrocrania immensipalpa'')
*†''
Moleropterix''
Engel & Kinzelbach, 2008
**†''
Moleropterix kalbei''
Engel & Kinzelbach, 2008 (sometimes placed in Eolepidopterigidae)
*†''
Palaeolepidopterix
''Palaeolepidopterix'' is an extinct genus of small primitive metallic moths within the extinct family Eolepidopterigidae, containing one species, ''Palaeolepidopterix aurea''. It is known from the Late Jurassic ( Oxfordian - Kimmeridgian) Karaba ...
''
Kozlov, 1989
**†''
Palaeolepidopterix aurea''
Kozlov, 1989
*†''
Palaeosabatinca''
Kozlov, 1989
**†''
Palaeosabatinca zherichini''
Kozlov, 1988
*†''
Parasabatinca''
Whalley, 1978
**†''
Parasabatinca aftimacrai''
Whalley, 1978
**†''
Parasabatinca caldasae''
Martins Neto & Vulcano, 1989
*''
Sabatinca
''Sabatinca'' is a genus of small primitive metallic moths in the family Micropterigidae. '' Palaeomicra'' and '' Micropardalis'' were both established as subgenera of ''Sabatinca'', but were both raised to generic level by Joël Minet in 1985. ...
''
Walker, 1863
**†''
Sabatinca perveta''
(Cockerell, 1919)
Superfamily
Nepticuloidea
Nepticuloidea is a superfamily of usually very small monotrysian moths that are characterised by small or large eyecaps over the compound eyes.
It comprises two families, the "pigmy moths" (Nepticulidae), with 12 genera which are very diverse wor ...
Family
Nepticulidae
Nepticulidae is a family of very small moths with a worldwide distribution. They are characterised by eyecaps over the eyes (see also Opostegidae, Bucculatricidae, Lyonetiidae). These pigmy moths or midget moths, as they are commonly known, inc ...
*†''
Foliofossor''
Jarzembowski, 1989
**†''
Foliofossor cranei''
Jarzembwoski, 1989 (Paleocene; England; mines in ''Platanus'' sp. leaves) (originally placed in Agromyzidae)
*†''
Stigmellites''
Kernbach, 1967
**†''
Stigmellites araliae''
(Fric, 1882) (Czech Republic; mine in Araliaceae sp. leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites baltica''
(Kozlov, 1988) (Eocene; Baltic amber; mine)
**†''
Stigmellites caruini-orientalis''
Straus, 1977 (Pliocene; Hessen, Germany; mine in ''Carpinus orientalis fossilis'' leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites heringi''
Kernbach, 1967 (Pliocene; Hessen, Germany; mine in ''Berberis'' sp. leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites kzyldzharica''
(Kozlov, 1988) (Kazakhstan; mine in ''Platanus'' sp. leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites messelensis''
Straus, 1976 (Eocene; Messel, Germany; mine)
**†''
Stigmellites pliotityrella''
Kernbach, 1967 (Pliocene; Hessen, Germany; mine in ''Fagus silvatica'' leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites samsonovi''
Kozlov, 1988 (Kazakhstan; mine in ''Trochodendroides arctica'' leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites serpentina''
(Kozlov, 1988) (Kazakhstan mine in ''Trochodendroides arctica'' leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites sharovi''
(Kozlov, 1988) (Kazakhstan mine in ''Trochodendroides arctica'' leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites tyshchenkoi''
(Kozlov, 1988) (Kazakhstan mine in ''Platanus latior'' leaf)
**†''
Stigmellites zelkovae''
Straus, 1977 (Pliocene; Hessen, Germany; mine in ''Zelkova'' sp. leaf)
Superfamily
Noctuoidea
Noctuoidea is the superfamily of noctuid (Latin "night owl") or "owlet" moths, and has more than 70,000 described species, the largest number of for any Lepidopteran superfamily. Its classification has not yet reached a satisfactory or stable st ...
Family
Arctiidae
The Arctiinae (formerly called the family Arctiidae) are a large and diverse subfamily of moths with around 11,000 species found all over the world, including 6,000 neotropical species.Scoble, MJ. (1995). ''The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and D ...
*†''
Oligamatites
''Oligamatites'' is an extinct genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae. It contains the single species ''Oligamatites martynovi'' dated to the Upper Oligocene, which was described from Kazakhstan. Both the genus and species were described by N ...
''
Kusnezov, 1928
**†''
Oligamatites martynovi''
Kusnezov, 1928 (Kazakhstan, Upper Oligocene)
*†''
Stauropolia''
Skalski, 1988
**†''
Stauropolia nekrutenkoi''
Skalski, 1988 (Caucasus, Miocene)
Family
Lymantriidae
The Lymantriinae (formerly called the Lymantriidae) are a subfamily of moths of the family Erebidae. The taxon was erected by George Hampson in 1893.
Many of its component species are referred to as "tussock moths" of one sort or another. The cat ...
*One undescribed ''
Euproctis
''Euproctis'' is a genus of tussock moths in the family Erebidae described by Jacob Hübner in 1819. Species are cosmopolitan, widespread throughout Palearctic, African, Oriental and Australian regions. Molecular phylogenetic studies indicate tha ...
'' species
Family
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...
*†''
Noctuites''
Heer, 1849
**†''
Noctuites haidingeri''
Heer, 1849 (Croatia, Radoboj, Cenozoic)
*†''
Xyleutites''
Kozhanchikov, 1957
**†''
Xyleutites miocenicus''
Kozhanchikov, 1957 (northern Caucasus, Miocene) (originally in Cossidae)
Family
Notodontidae
Notodontidae is a family of moths with approximately 3,800 known species. The family was described by James Francis Stephens in 1829. Moths of this family are found in all parts of the world, but they are most concentrated in tropical areas, espe ...
*†''
Cerurites''
Kernbach, 1967
**†''
Cerurites wagneri''
Kernbach, 1967 (Germany, Willershausen, Cenozoic)
Superfamily Papilionoidea
Basal or ''
incertae sedis
' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...
''
*†''
Lithodryas
''Lithodryas'' is a prehistoric genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. It was introduced as a replacement for Samuel Hubbard Scudder's genus ''Lithopsyche'', which is invalid as a homonym, as another fossil lepidopteran genus had been de ...
''
Cockerell, 1909 –
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfl ...
,
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...
?
**†''
Lithodryas styx
''Lithodryas'' is a prehistoric genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. It was introduced as a replacement for Samuel Hubbard Scudder's genus ''Lithopsyche'', which is invalid as a homonym, as another fossil lepidopteran genus had been ...
''
(Scudder, 1889)
*†''
Lithopsyche
''Lithopsyche'' is a fossil butterfly known from Oligocene-aged strata of the Isle of Wight, England. The sole specimen is too incomplete to allow a certain assignment of a family, but it was placed on its description as a geometrid and more re ...
''
Butler, 1889 –
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfl ...
,
Riodinidae
Riodinidae is the family of metalmark butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small, metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. The 1532 species are placed in 146 genera. Although mostly Neotropical in distribution, t ...
?
**†''
Lithopsyche antiqua
''Lithopsyche'' is a fossil butterfly known from Oligocene-aged strata of the Isle of Wight, England. The sole specimen is too incomplete to allow a certain assignment of a family (biology), family, but it was placed on its description as a geom ...
''
Butler, 1889
*†''
Riodinella''
Durden & Rose, 1978
**†''
Riodinella nympha''
Durden & Rose, 1978 (Colorado, Middle Eocene) –
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...
,
Pieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing about 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and tropical Asia with some varieties in the more northern regions of North America and Eurasia.DeVries P. J. in Levi ...
,
Riodinidae
Riodinidae is the family of metalmark butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small, metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. The 1532 species are placed in 146 genera. Although mostly Neotropical in distribution, t ...
?
Family
Hesperiidae
Skippers are a family of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) named the Hesperiidae. Being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy ...
*†''
Pamphilites''
Scudder, 1875
**†''
Pamphilites abdita''
Scudder, 1875 (Aix-en-Provence, Oligocene)
*†''
Thanatites''
Scudder, 1875
**†''
Thanatites vetula''
(Heyden, 1859) (Western Germany, Cenozoic) (originally in Nymphalidae)
Family
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfl ...
*†''
Aquisextana''
Theobald, 1937
**†''
Aquisextana irenaei''
Theobald, 1937 (France, Early Oligocene)
Family
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...
*†''
Apanthesis''
Scudder, 1889
**†''
Apanthesis leuce''
Scudder, 1889 (Colorado, Florissant)
*†''
Barbarothea''
Scudder, 1892
**†''
Barbarothea florissanti''
Scudder, 1892 (Colorado, Florissant)
*''
Doxocopa
''Doxocopa'' is a genus of Neotropical butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Apaturinae. It includes the following species:
* '' Doxocopa agathina'' (Cramer, 777 - Agathina emperor
* '' Doxocopa burmeisteri'' (Godman & Salvin, 884
* ' ...
''
Hübner, 1819
**†''
Doxocopa wilmattae''
(Cockerell, 1907) (Colorado, Florissant) (originally in Chlorippe)
*''
Hestina
Hestina is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae subfamily Apaturinae. The genus is found in the East Palearctic and Southeast Asia.
Known larval food plants are ''Celtis'' and, for one species, '' Trema'' (Ulmaceae). These include ' ...
''
Westwood, 1850
**''
Hestina japonica''
(C. & R. Felder)
*†''
Jupitellia''
Carpenter, 1985
**†''
Jupitellia charon''
(Scudder, 1889) (originally in Jupiteria)
*†''
Lethites''
Scudder, 1875
**†''
Lethites reynesii''
(Scudder, 1872)
*Undescribed ''
Limenitis
''Limenitis'' is a genus of brush-footed butterflies, commonly called the admirals. The sister butterflies ('' Adelpha'') and commander butterflies ('' Moduza'') are sometimes included here.
The name ''Limenitis'' is New Latin "of harbours", fro ...
'' species
*†''
Mylothrites''
Scudder, 1875
**†''
Mylothrites pluto''
(Heer, 1850) (Europe, Oligocene) (originally in Vanessa)
*†''
Neorinella''
Martins, Kucera-Santos, Vieira & Fr, 1993
**†''
Neorinella garciae''
Martines-Neto, 1993
*†''
Neorinopis''
Butler, 1873
**†''
Neorinopis sepulta''
(Boisduval, 1840) (France, Early Oligocene)
*†''
Nymphalites''
Scudder, 1889
**†''
Nymphalites obscurum''
Scudder, 1889 (Colorado, Florissant)
**†''
Nymphalites scudderi''
Beutenmller and Cockerell, 1908
**†''
Nymphalites zeuneri''
Jarembowski, 1980
*†''
Prodryas
''Prodryas persephone'' is an extinct species of brush-footed butterfly, known from a single specimen from the Chadronian-aged Florissant Shale Lagerstatte of Late Eocene Colorado. ''P. persephone'' is the first fossil butterfly to be found in ...
''
Scudder, 1878
**†''
Prodryas persephone
''Prodryas persephone'' is an extinct species of brush-footed butterfly, known from a single specimen from the Chadronian-aged Florissant Shale Lagerstatte of Late Eocene Colorado. ''P. persephone'' is the first fossil butterfly to be found in ...
''
Scudder, 1878
*†''
Prolibythea''
Scudder, 1889
**†''
Prolibythea vagabunda''
Scudder, 1889 (Colorado, Florissant)
*''
Vanessa Vanessa may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Vanessa'' (Millais painting), an 1868 painting by Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais
* ''Vanessa'', a 1933 novel by Hugh Walpole
* ''Vanessa'', a 1952 instrumental song written by Bernie ...
''
Fabricius, 1807
**†''
Vanessa amerindica''
Miller & Brown, 1989 (Colorado, Florissant)
Family
Papilionidae
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the larges ...
*†''
Doritites''
Rebel, 1898
**†''
Doritites bosniackii
''Doritites bosniackii'' is a fossil swallowtail butterfly in the subfamily Parnassiinae. It was described by Rebel in 1898. The genus and its sole species was described from the Miocene of Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of I ...
''
Rebel, 1898 (Italy, Tuscany, Miocene) (sometimes in Luehdorfia)
*†''
Praepapilio
''Praepapilio'' is an extinct genus of swallowtail butterfly from the middle Eocene deposits of Colorado, United States, comparable to the Lutetian epoch in age. The genus is considered to be the only representative of the fossil subfamily Praep ...
''
Durden & Rose, 1978
**†''
Praepapilio colorado''
Durden & Rose, 1978
**†''
Praepapilio gracilis''
Durden & Rose 1978
*†''
Thaites
''Thaites ruminiana'', is the only species of the extinct genus, ''Thaites''. It was described by Samuel Hubbard Scudder in 1875, after discovery in Aix-en-Provence, Southern France. It is a fossil swallowtail butterfly
Butterflies a ...
''
Scudder, 1875
**†''
Thaites ruminianus''
Scudder, 1875 (France, Aix-en-Provence, Oligocene)
Family
Pieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing about 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and tropical Asia with some varieties in the more northern regions of North America and Eurasia.DeVries P. J. in Levi ...
*†''
Coliates''
Scudder, 1875
**†''
Coliates proserpina''
Scudder, 1875
*†''
Oligodonta''
Brown, 1976
**†''
Oligodonta florissantensis''
Brown, 1976 (Colorado, Oligocene)
*''
Pontia
''Pontia'' is a genus of pierid butterflies. They are found in the Holarctic, but are rare in Europe and central to eastern North America, and a few species range into the Afrotropics. Several East Asian species once placed here are now more o ...
''
Fabricius, 1807
**†''
Pontia freyeri''
(Heer, 1849)
*†''
Stolopsyche''
Scudder, 1889
**†''
Stolopsyche libytheoides''
Scudder, 1889 (Colorado, Cenozoic)
Family
Riodinidae
Riodinidae is the family of metalmark butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small, metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. The 1532 species are placed in 146 genera. Although mostly Neotropical in distribution, t ...
*''
Voltinia''
Stichel, 1910
**†''
Voltinia dramba
''Voltinia dramba'' is a fossil metalmark butterfly, found in pieces of amber in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola in 2004. The butterfly, belonging to the extant genus '' Voltinia'', is the first species to be taxonomically de ...
''
Hall, Robbins & Harvey 2004
Superfamily
Pterophoroidea
The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblag ...
Family
Pterophoridae
The Pterophoridae or plume moths are a family of Lepidoptera with unusually modified wings. Though they belong to the Apoditrysia like the larger moths and the butterflies, unlike these they are tiny and were formerly included among the assemblag ...
![Merrifieldia oligocenicus holotype MNHN](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Merrifieldia_oligocenicus_holotype_MNHN.F.B47277_direct_lighting.jpg)
*''
Merrifieldia
''Merrifieldia'' is a genus of moths in the family Pterophoridae.
Species
*''Merrifieldia alaica''
*''Merrifieldia baliodactylus''
*''Merrifieldia brandti''
*''Merrifieldia bystropogonis''
*''Merrifieldia calcarius''
*''Merrifieldia cana' ...
''
Tutt, 1905
**†''
Merrifieldia oligocenicus
''Merrifieldia oligocenicus'' (synonyms ''Pterophorus oligocenicus'') is an extinct moth of the family Pterophoridae. It is the only known fossil of the family Pterophoridae. It was discovered in Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhone in France. It i ...
'' (
Bigot, Nel & Nel, 1986) (synonym=†''
Pterophorus oligocenus'')
Superfamily
Pyraloidea
The Pyraloidea (pyraloid moths or snout moths) are a moth superfamily containing about 16,000 described species worldwide, and probably at least as many more remain to be described. They are generally fairly small moths, and as such, they have b ...
Family
Pyralidae
The Pyralidae, commonly called pyralid moths, snout moths or grass moths, are a family of Lepidoptera in the ditrysian superfamily Pyraloidea. In many (particularly older) classifications, the grass moths (Crambidae) are included in the Pyrali ...
*†''
Gallerites''
Kernbach, 1967
**†''
Gallerites keleri''
Kernbach, 1967
*†''
Glendotricha
''Glendotricha'' is an extinct genus in the superfamily Pyraloidea. It was described by Kusnezov in 1941, and contains the species ''G. olgae''. It is known from Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, ...
''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Glendotricha olgae''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Pyralites''
Heer, 1856
**†''
Pyralites obscures''
Heer, 1856
**†''
Pyralites preecei''
Jarzembowski, 1980
Superfamily
Sesioidea
Sesioidea is the superfamily currently containing clearwing moths (Sesiidae
The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a diurnal moth family in the order Lepidoptera known for their Batesian mimicry in both appearance and behaviour of various Hyme ...
Family
Castniidae
Castniidae, or castniid moths, is a small family of moths with fewer than 200 species: The majority are Neotropical with some in Australia and a few in south-east Asia. These are medium-sized to very large moths, usually with drab, cryptically-ma ...
*†''
Dominickus''
Tindale, 1985
**†''
Dominickus castinodes''
Tindale, 1985 (
Priabonian
The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between . The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage of t ...
, Florissant Formation, Colorado)
Superfamily
Tineoidea
Tineoidea is the ditrysian superfamily of moths that includes clothes moths, Bagworm moth, bagworms and relatives. There are six families usually included within it, Eriocottidae, Arrhenophanidae, Lypusidae, Acrolophidae, Tineidae and Psychidae, ...
Family
Psychidae
The Psychidae (bagworm moths, also simply bagworms or bagmoths) are a family of the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). The bagworm family is fairly small, with about 1,350 species described. Bagworm species are found globally, with some, su ...
*''
Dahlica
''Dahlica'' is a genus of moths belonging to the family Psychidae.
Species:
* ''Dahlica triquetrella''
* ''Dahlica lichenella''
* ''Dahlica klimeschi''
* ''Dahlica lazuri''
* ''Dahlica charlottae''
* ''Dahlica fennicella''
References
{{Ta ...
''
Enderlein, 1912
**''
Dahlica triquetrella
''Dahlica triquetrella'' is a bagworm moth of the Psychidae family. It is found in Europe and North America.
The wingspan
The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For exampl ...
''
(Hübner, 1813) (Baltic amber)
*†''
Palaeopsyche
''Palaeopsyche'' is a genus of moths in the family Epipyropidae. It consists of only one species ''Palaeopsyche melanias'', which is found in the wet tropics of Queensland.
The wingspan
The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is ...
''
Sobczyk & Kobbert, 2009
**†''
Palaeopsyche secundum''
Sobczyk & Kobbert, 2009 (Baltic amber)
**†''
Palaeopsyche transversum''
Sobczyk & Kobbert, 2009 (Baltic amber)
*†''
Psychites''
Kozlov, 1989
**†''
Psychites pristinella''
Kozlov, 1989 (Baltic region, Cenozoic, amber)
*''
Siederia
''Siederia'' is a genus of small moths. It belongs to the bagworm moth family (Psychidae). Therein, it is placed in subfamily Naryciinae, or, if that is not considered sufficiently distinct, in the Taleporiinae.
Most species were formerly i ...
''
Meier, 1957
**''
Siederia pineti
''Siederia listerella'' is a moth of the Psychidae family. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is found in most of Europe, except Ireland, Great Britain, the Iberian Peninsula and most of the Balkan Peninsula.
The wingspan
The w ...
''
(Zeller, 1852)
*''
Sterrhopterix''
Hübner, 1825
**†''
Sterrhopteryx pristinella''
Rebel, 1934
*''
Taleporia''
Hübner, 1825
**''
Taleporia tubulosa''
(Retzius, 1783)
*''
Bacotia''
Tutt, 1899
**''
Bacotia claustrella''
(Bruand, 1845)
Family
Tineidae
Tineidae is a family of moths in the order Lepidoptera described by Pierre André Latreille in 1810. Collectively, they are known as fungus moths or tineid moths. The family contains considerably more than 3,000 species in more than 300 genera. ...
*†''
Architinea''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Architinea balticella''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Architinea sepositella''
Rebel, 1934
*†''
Dysmasiites''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Dysmasiites carpenteri''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Electromeessia''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Electromeessia zagulijaevi''
Kozlov, 1987 (Baltic region, Eocene amber)
*†''
Glessoscardia''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Glessoscardia gerasimovi''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Martynea''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Martynea rebeli''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Monopibaltia''
Skalski, 1974
**†''
Monopibaltia ignitella''
Skalski, 1974 (Baltic region, Eocene amber)
*†''
Palaeoinfurcitinea''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Palaeoinfurcitinea rohdendorfi''
Kozlov, 1987 (Russia, Eocene amber)
*†''
Palaeoscardiites''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Palaeoscardiites mordvilkoi''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Palaeotinea''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Palaeotinea rasnitsyni''
Kozlov, 1987
*†''
Paratriaxomasia''
Jarzembowski, 1980
**†''
Paratriaxomasia solentensis''
Jarzembowski, 1980
*†''
Proscardiites''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Proscardiites martynovi''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Pseudocephitinea''
Kozlov, 1987
**†''
Pseudocephitinea svetlanae''
Kozlov, 1987 (Russia, Eocene amber)
*†''
Scardiites''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Scardiites meyricki''
Kusnezov, 1941
*†''
Simulotenia''
Skalski, 1977
**†''
Simulotenia intermedia''
Skalski, 1977
*†''
Tillyardinea''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Tillyardinea eocaenica''
Kusnezov, 1941
*''
Tinea
Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin. Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the area affected. Symptoms begin four to fourteen days after exposure. Multiple ar ...
''
Linnaeus, 1758
**†''
Tinea antique''
Rebel, 1822
*†''
Tineitella''
T. B. Fletcher, 1940
**†''
Tineitella crystalli''
Kawall, 1876 (originally in Tineites)
**†''
Tineitella sucinacius''
Kozlov, 1987 (originally in Tineites)
*†''
Tineolamima''
Rebel, 1934
**†''
Tineolamima aurella''
Rebel, 1934
*†''
Tineosemopsis''
Skalski, 1974
**†''
Tineosemopsis decurtatus''
Skalski, 1974
Superfamily
Tortricoidea
The Tortricidae are a family of moths, commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths, in the order Lepidoptera. This large family has over 11,000 species described, and is the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea, although the genus ...
Family
Tortricidae
The Tortricidae are a family of moths, commonly known as tortrix moths or leafroller moths, in the order Lepidoptera. This large family has over 11,000 species described, and is the sole member of the superfamily Tortricoidea, although the genu ...
![Tortricidrosis inclusa Skalski 1973 Hoffeins coll Fig A](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Tortricidrosis_inclusa_Skalski_1973_Hoffeins_coll_Fig_A.jpg)
*†''
Antiquatortia''
**†''
Antiquatortia histuroides''
Brown & Baixeras, 2018 (Dominican amber)
*†''
Electresia
''Electresia'' is a genus of moths belonging to the subfamily Olethreutinae of the family Tortricidae.
Species
*''Electresia zalesskii'' Kuznetzov, 1941
See also
*List of Tortricidae genera
This is a taxonomy of the moth family Tortricidae d ...
''
Kusnezov, 1941
**†''
Electresia zalesskii''
Kusnezov, 1941 (Tanzania, Copal)
*†''
Tortricibaltia''
Skalski, 1992
**†''
Tortricibaltia diakonoffi''
Skalski, 1981 (Baltic amber)
*†''
Tortricidrosis''
Skalski, 1973
**†''
Tortricidrosis inclusa''
Skalski, 1973 (Baltic amber)
Superfamily
Yponomeutoidea
Yponomeutoidea is a superfamily of ermine moths and relatives. There are about 1,800 species of Yponomeutoids worldwide, most of them known to come from temperate regions. This superfamily is one of the earliest groups to evolve external feeding ...
Family
Heliodinidae
Heliodinidae, commonly known as sun moths, is a family of small moths with slender bodies and narrow wings. Members of this family are found in most parts of the world. Heliodinid moths are brightly coloured day-flying moths. The base of the haus ...
*†''
Baltonides''
Skalski, 1981
**†''
Baltonides roeselliformis''
Skalski, 1981 (Baltic region, Late Eocene)
Family
Lyonetiidae
Lyonetiidae is a family of moths with some 200 described species. These are small, slender moths, the wingspan rarely exceeding 1 cm. The very narrow forewings, held folded backwards covering the hindwings and abdomen, often have pointed ap ...
*†''
Prolyonetia
''Prolyonetia'' is an extinct genus of moths in the family Lyonetiidae. The single species ''Prolyonetia cockerelli'' Kusnetzov, 1941, has been described from Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, c ...
''
Kusnezov, 1941 (Eocene;
Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than 1 ...
, Europe)
**†''Prolyonetia cockerelli''
Kusnezov, 1941
Family
Yponomeutidae
: ''Certain members of the unrelated snout moths (Pyralidae) are also known as "ermine moths." Spilosoma lubricipeda is an unrelated moth with the common name "white ermine."''
The family Yponomeutidae are known as the ermine moths, with severa ...
*†''
Epinomeuta''
Rebel, 1936
**†''
Epinomeuta truncatipennella''
Rebel, 1936
Superfamily
Zygaenoidea
The Zygaenoidea comprise the superfamily of moths that includes burnet moths, forester moths, and relatives.
The families are:
* Aididae
* Anomoeotidae
* Cyclotornidae
* Dalceridae
* Epipyropidae
* Heterogynidae
* Himantopteridae
* L ...
Family
Zygaenidae
The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. Some of the 1000 or so species are commonly known as burnet or forester moths, ofte ...
![Neurosymploca oligocenica holotype MNHN](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Neurosymploca_oligocenica_holotype_MNHN.F.R55185_part-direct_lighting.jpg)
*''
Neurosymploca
''Neurosymploca'' is a genus of moths belonging to the family Zygaenidae
The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. Some of ...
''
Wallengren, 1858
**†''
Neurosymploca? oligocenica
''Neurosymploca? oligocenica'' is an extinct species of moth in the family Zygaenidae, and possibly in the modern genus ''Neurosymploca''. The species is known from Early Oligocene, Rupelian stage, lake deposits near the commune of Céreste in th ...
''
Fernández-Rubio & Nel, 2000 (
Lower Stampian,
Céreste
Céreste (; Occitan: ''Ceirèsta'') is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It is known for its rich fossil beds in fine layers of "Calcaire de Campagne Calavon" limestone, which are now protected by the Pa ...
,
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence or sometimes abbreviated as AHP (; oc, Aups d'Auta Provença; ) is a department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France, bordering Alpes-Maritimes and Italy to the east, Var to the south, Vaucluse to the west ...
, France)
*''
Zygaena
''Zygaena'' is a genus of moths in the family Zygaenidae. These brightly coloured, day-flying moths are native to the West Palearctic.
Description
Adalbert Seitz described them thus:
"Small, stout, black insects, sometimes with metallic gloss. ...
''
Fabricius, 1775
**†''
"Zygaena" miocaenica''
Reiss, 1936 (Germany)
**†''
"Zygaena" turolensis''
Fernández-Rubio, de Olano & Cunarro, 1991
*†''
Zygaenites''
Burgeff, 1951
**†''
Zygaenites controversus''
Burgeff, 1951 (Germany, Miocene)
Superfamily unassigned
Family † Archaeolepidae
*†''
Archaeolepis
''Archaeolepis mane'' is amongst the earliest undisputed lepidopteran fossils. It dates from the Lower Jurassic (ca ). It was found in the Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Dorset, United Kingdom.
Etymology
''Archaeolepis'' means 'ancient scale', ref ...
''
Whalley, 1985
**†''
Archaeolepis mane''
Whalley, 1985
Family † Curvicubitidae
*†''
Curvicubitus''
Hong, 1984
**†''
Curvicubitus triassicus''
Hong, 1984 (China, Middle Triassic)
Family † Mesokristenseniidae
*†''
Mesokristensenia''
Huang, Nel & Minet, 2010
**†''
Mesokristensenia angustipenna''
Huang, Nel & Minet, 2010
**†''
Mesokristensenia latipenna''
Huang, Nel & Minet, 2010
**†''
Mesokristensenia sinica''
Huang, Nel & Minet, 2010
Superfamily unassigned
![Spatalistiforma submerga Skalski 1992-ZMCD-HT-12-4-1957LEPSUCC88-UZMC-AWS-Baltic Fig A](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Spatalistiforma_submerga_Skalski_1992-ZMCD-HT-12-4-1957LEPSUCC88-UZMC-AWS-Baltic_Fig_A.jpg)
*†''
Bombycites''
Heer, 1849
**†''
Bombycites oeningensis''
Heer, 1849 (Croatia, Oeningen, described from a pupa)
*†''
Karataunia''
Kozlov, 1989
**†''
Karataunia lapidaria''
Kozlov, 1989 (Kazakhstan, Upper Jurassic)
*†''
Paleolepidopterites
''Paleolepidopterites '' is a collective genus of fossil moths which can not be placed in any defined family. The included species were formerly placed in the leaf-roller family Tortricidae and are known from fossils found in Russia and the Uni ...
''
Kozlov, 2018
**†''
Paleolepidopterites destructus''
Cockerell, 1916 (
Priabonian
The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between . The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage of t ...
, Florissant Formation, Colorado)
**†''
Paleolepidopterites florissantanus''
Cockerell, 1907 (
Priabonian
The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between . The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage of t ...
, Florissant Formation, Colorado)
*†''
Phylledestes''
Cockerell, 1907
**†''
Phylledestes vorax''
Cockerell, 1907 (Colorado, Florissant – in the Miocene shales, described from a larva)
*†''
Protolepis''
Kozlov, 1989
**†''
Protolepis cuprealata''
Kozlov, 1989 (Kazakhstan, Upper Jurassic)
*†''
Spatalistiforma''
Skalski, 1992
**†''
Spatalistiforma submerga''
Skalski, 1981 (Baltic amber)
*†''
Thermojana''
Yang & Chen, 1995
**†''
Thermojana sinica''
Yang & Chen, 1995 (China) (originally placed in Eupterotidae)
Excluded from Lepidoptera
Several fossils originally described as lepidopterans have subsequently been assigned to other groups, some as basal Amphiesmenoptera, others into other entirely distinct insect orders.
Superorder
Amphiesmenoptera
Amphiesmenoptera is an insect superorder, established by S. G. Kiriakoff, but often credited to Willi Hennig in his revision of insect taxonomy for two sister orders: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and Trichoptera (caddisflies). In 2017, a t ...
Family † Eocoronidae
*†''
Eocorona''
Tindale, 1980
**†''
Eocorona iani''
Tindale, 1980 (Queensland, Mid-Triassic)
Order
Hemiptera
Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...
Family †
Palaeontinidae
Palaeontinidae, commonly known as giant cicadas, is an extinct family of cicadomorphs. They existed during the Mesozoic era of Europe, Asia, and South America. The family contains around 30 to 40 genera and around a hundred species.
Discovery
T ...
(?)
*†''
Cyllonium''
Westwood, 1854
**†''
Cyllonium boidusvalianum''
Westwood, 1854
**†''
Cyllonium hewitsonianum''
Westwood, 1854
Order
Mecoptera
Mecoptera (from the Greek: ''mecos'' = "long", ''ptera'' = "wings") is an order of insects in the superorder Endopterygota with about six hundred species in nine families worldwide. Mecopterans are sometimes called scorpionflies after their lar ...
(?)
Family †Permochoristidae
*†''
Eoses''
Tindale, 1945
**†''
Eoses triassica''
Tindale 1945, disputed to be a synonym of †''
Mesochorista proavita''
Tillyard 1916 in the
Mecoptera
Mecoptera (from the Greek: ''mecos'' = "long", ''ptera'' = "wings") is an order of insects in the superorder Endopterygota with about six hundred species in nine families worldwide. Mecopterans are sometimes called scorpionflies after their lar ...
Family †Choristopsychidae
From the late middle
Jurassic
The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The J ...
(164-165
mya) from the
Daohugou fossil beds of Inner Mongolia.
*†''
Choristopsyche''
Martynov, 1937
**†''
Choristopsyche tenuinervis''
Martynov, 1937
**†''
Choristopsyche perfecta''
Qiao, Shih, Petrulevičius & Ren Dong, 2013
**†''
Choristopsyche asticta''
Qiao, Shih, Petrulevičius & Ren Dong, 2013
*†''
Paristopsyche''
Qiao, Shih, Petrulevičius & Ren Dong, 2013
**†''
Paristopsyche angelineae''
Qiao, Shih, Petrulevičius & Ren Dong, 2013
See also
*
List of extinct butterflies
*
Prehistoric insects
Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...
References
External links
{{Commons category
International Palaeoentomological SocietyPalaeoentomology in Russiain both English and Russian