Tortrix Destructus

''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 United States (specifically Colorado). The collective genus contains three species: ''Paleolepidopterites destructus'', ''Paleolepidopterites florissantanus'', and ''Paleolepidopterites sadilenkoi'', formerly placed within the genera ''Tortrix'' and ''Tortricites'' respectively. The three species were formally redescribed and moved to the new collective genus by Heikkilä ''et al (2018).

Distribution

Two of the species were recovered from the late Eocene, Lutetian and Priabonian stages, Florissant Formation lake deposits near the small community of Florissant in Teller County, Colorado, United States. The holotype of ''P. destructus'' was recovered from fossiliferous outcrops on the ranch of George W. Wilson, while the ''P. florissantanus'' holotype came from outcrops at Station 14.

Species

''P. destructus''

''P. destructus'' is known only from one fossil, the holotype, specimen "USNM 61998", which was first described as ''Tortrix? destructus''. It is a single, mostly complete adult of undetermined sex, preserved as a compression fossil in fine grained shale. The type specimen is currently preserved in the paleoentomological collections housed in the National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, located in Washington, D.C., United States. ''P. destructus'' was first studied by Dr Theodore D. A. Cockerell of the University of Colorado, with his 1917 type description being published in the ''Proceedings of the United States National Museum''. Cockerell did not provide an explanation for the specific epithet ''destructus''.

''P. florissantanus''

''P. florissantanus'' is also known only from the holotype, number "NHM-I.8429" for part side and "UCM 8579" for the counterpart side. It's a single, mostly complete adult female, preserved as a compression fossil in fine grained shale. One side of the type specimen is currently preserved in the paleoentomological collections housed in the Natural History Museum located in London, England, while the other side is in the collections of the University of Colorado. ''P. florissantanus'' was first studied by Dr Theodore D. A. Cockerell of the University of Colorado, with his 1907 type description being published in the journal '' Canadian Entomologist''. Cockerell did not provide an explanation for the specific epithet ''florissantana''.

''P. florissantanus'' is about long with a robust thorax. The abdomen is covered by the wings which are preserved in resting position. The antenna are preserved showing minute dark spots at intervals along their length. The fore wings overall length is not specified, however the outer margin is and the lower margin is . The hind-wings are in length. Most of the fore and hind wing scales are missing eliminating most of the color patterning. The fore wings were possibly striped along the veins with a notable darkening along the apex of the hind wings. The gently curving wing margin, lacking a projection, and the arched costa indicate a member of the family Tortricidae, rather than the similar family Pyralidae.

''P. sadilenkoi''

The holotype of ''P. sadilenkoi'', Sadilenko 4, was discovered in a chunk of Baltic amber found in the Kaliningrad Oblast that dated back to the Priabonian age.M. V. Kozlov. 1988. Paleontologiya cheshukerylykh i voprosy filogenii otrayada Papilionida. ''Melovoy Biotsenoticheskiy Krizis i Evolyutsiya Nasekomykh'' 16-69

Description

''Paleolepidopterites'' is about long with a robust thorax and an abdomen which tapers towards the tip. The slender antenna are long, with tips that curl to form almost a circle, and are reddish in coloration. Where visible the legs are either hairy or scaly. The forewings are in length with a outer margin and a lower margin. The hindwing length is not specified, the color patterning is described, with the hindwings longitudinally striped and a broad but diffuse submarginal band.

''P. destructus'' is noted to be much smaller than the other ''Paleolepidopterites'' species from Florissant, ''P. florissantana''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7827338

Fossil Lepidoptera
Eocene insects
Fossil taxa described in 2018
Prehistoric insects of North America
Florissant Formation
Baltic amber