Amber Lepidoptera: First confirmable record of Micropterix Hübner, 1825 from Eocene Baltic Amber (Insecta, Micropterigidae)

Lepidoptera from succinite ambers are studied systematically. Here, one male of a new species of Micropterix Hübner, 1825, i. e. Micropterix eocenica sp. nov. is described, being the first confirmable record of this genus from Eocene Baltic amber.

It is compared with Micropterix gertraudae Kurz & Kurz, 2010, known until now only from a single female, although probably not belonging to this genus, and also to recently described genera related to Micropterix from Bitterfeld amber. Phylogenetic and paleobiogeographical implications are discussed. The male genitalia of a fossil Micropterix are figured for the first time.

A minimal geological age of 33.9 to 37.8 million years (Priabonian) for the genus Micropterix is provided by this report, further confirming a European origin of Micropterix s. str.