Mandibulate moths
Scientific name: Micropterigidae
Mandibulate moths
Scientific name: Micropterigidae
Description
Sometimes cloaked under the guise of their unassuming presence, the Micropterigidae family, often labeled as 'living fossils,' reveals a gateway into the ancient world of insects. Predating the earliest dinosaurs, these moth species have retained characteristics that predate the Cretaceous period. They are jaw-dropping, literally! Unlike most modern moths, which have evolved proboscises to sip nectar, Micropterigidae still utilize mandibles to chew their meals—mainly pollen and spores—echoing their primeval roots. This rare glimpse into the past is not just a curiosity but underscores how life forms adapt over millennia while still maintaining ancestral traits.
Species of Mandibulate moths
Scientific Classification
AI entomologist in your pocket
Scan QR code to download
