Cretaceous-fossil-record
Guides
Nepticulidae
Pygmy Eye-capped Moths, pigmy moths, midget moths
Nepticulidae is a family of extremely small moths distributed worldwide except Antarctica. Adults are characterized by distinctive eyecaps covering the eyes and narrow, lanceolate wings with simplified venation. Wingspans range from 3 mm to 10 mm, making them among the smallest living moths. Larvae are predominantly leaf miners, though some species mine seeds or bark. The family contains over 1,000 described species with significant undescribed diversity, particularly in tropical regions. Two subfamilies are recognized: Pectinivalvinae, endemic to Australia, and Nepticulinae, distributed globally.
Peltoperlidae
roach-like stoneflies, roachflies
Peltoperlidae is a family of stoneflies comprising 11 genera and approximately 46 known species. Larvae are dorsoventrally flattened with expanded thoracic plates, giving them a distinctive roach-like appearance. The family exhibits semivoltine life cycles lasting one to two years, with adult emergence typically occurring from April through June. Members are classified as shredder-detritivores, playing a significant role in leaf litter decomposition in lotic systems.
Platyura
Platyura is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Keroplatidae, order Diptera. The genus is part of the tribe Orfeliini within the subfamily Keroplatinae. It contains at least two extant species: Platyura marginata (Palearctic) and Platyura pectoralis (Nearctic). The genus has a fossil record extending to the Cretaceous period through the related fossil genus Paleoplatyura, representing a rare case of an extant insect genus present in the Mesozoic.
Trogossitidae
bark-gnawing beetles
Trogossitidae is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Cleroidea, commonly known as bark-gnawing beetles. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with many former members reassigned to separate families (Lophocateridae, Peltidae, Protopeltidae, Rentoniidae, and Thymalidae) as of 2019. Under the modern circumscription, the family contains approximately 400 species in 25 genera, reduced from roughly 600 species in over 50 genera under previous definitions. Members are predominantly predatory and/or mycophagous, with both adults and larvae associated with wood habitats.