In search for the unlikely: Leaf-mining caterpillars (Gracillariidae, Lepidoptera) from Upper Cretaceous and Eocene ambers

Fossil leaf-mining caterpillars from amber are firstly described as the new species Phyllocnistis cretacea Upper Cretaceous Myanmar and Phyllonorycter inopinata Eocene Baltic amber. Both show typical traits of leaf-miners, specifically, later instars their respective genera. The findings give further evidence for these being quite old conservative genera Gracillariidae. These basal Ditrysia which retained larval feeding mining live mode. also represent direct fossil individual stages hypermetamorphosis known extant finds putative identifications a minimal geological age genus (Phyllocnistinae) and, by indirect conclusion based on divergence, in sister clade (Lithocolletinae). It predates habit closer to time radiation angiospermous host plants.