Psychodinae, Newman, 1834

Curler, Gregory R. & Skibińska, Kornelia, 2021, Paleotelmatoscopus, a proposed new genus for some fossil moth flies (Diptera Psychodidae, Psychodinae) in Eocene Baltic amber, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4927 (4), pp. 505-524 : 517

Diversity of Psychodinae in Baltic amber

The main purpose of this work was to clarify part of the taxonomy of Baltic amber Psychodinae , based on reexamination of the type series from Meunier (1905), and the study of specimens from more recent collections. It was also interesting to assess the diversity, insofar as possible, based on specimens borrowed from various museums and amber collectors. We examined approximately 50 specimens in addition to reviewing the material originally studied by Meunier; the majority are Paleotelmatoscopus . Our sample is undoubtedly a small fraction compared to material that remains available for study; however, Paleotelmatoscopus seems to be prevalent in Baltic amber while so far other Psychodinae are rare.

In the Holarctic fauna of extant Psychodinae , Telmatoscopus and some related genera are known to inhabit tree cavities or are otherwise associated with trees ( Vaillant 1989; Oboňa & Ježek 2012; Curler et al. unpublished data). The common occurance of Paleotelmatoscopus in amber may be an indication that, like some of their presumed extant relatives, they were closely associated with trees. In contrast, a majority of extant psychodine genera are known to be associated with aquatic or moist terrestrial habitats, with the adults generally remaining close to the larval microhabitat. As discussed by Briggs (2018), insects associated with resiniferous trees are more likely to be included in amber, and it is important to consider sampling bias when studying amber insect assemblages. Regardless of whether Paleotelmatoscopus were directly associated with resin-producing trees, it appears that they were at least in the vicinity of these trees more frequently than moth flies of other genera. A more complete survey of the Baltic amber psychodid fauna is needed in order to understand which taxa are part of the amber forest community and which were captured by chance.