[Taxacom] fossil gaps in Lepidoptera

[John Grehan]

An interesting side note on fossil and tectonic gaps in divergence
estimation. In a recent paper I presented tectonic correlations as evidence
of extant species lineages of ghost moths dating back to the Cretaceous. Up
until very recently the earliest fossil evidence for fluid feeding
Lepidoptera was early-Cretaceous time (130 Ma) as represented by a leaf
mine possibly belonging to the family Gracillariidae.

Then earlier this year fossil Lepidoptera scales with features
characteristic of fluid feeding Lepidoptera (Exoporia and Heteroneura) were
found dating to about 200 Ma. Until this discovery the evolution of fluid
feeding Lepidoptera was largely attributed to late Mesozoic and Cenozoic a
co-evolution with flowering plants with fossils dating to the early
Cretaceous (although the sister groups date back much earlier).

Of course the new fossils might be found to be indeterminate of the taxa
claimed to be represented, or the taphonomy may be in error, or it may be
that the fossils are correct and fluid feeding Lepidoptera had
differentiated by this time (minimum age of origin!) even though no earlier
fossils have yet been found and nothing at this time between 200 and 130 Ma
(and even the latter fossil is only the fossil habitation attributed to
fluid feeding Lepidoptera).

John Grehan