The extinct caddisfly genus Palerasnitsynus (Psychomyiidae) is revised, based on nine new species embedded in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. They can be distinguished from all other extinct and extant psychomyiid genera by the absence of fork III in their fore- and hindwings and by the presence of latero-apical dark sporns at the 3rd maxillary palp segment. These species belong to the smallest Trichoptera hitherto known, with forewing lengths of 1.8–2.6 mm. Moreover, the micro-caddisflies of the genus Palerasnitsynus are very common and comprise almost 60 % of all caddisflies in Burmese amber. Some amber pieces contain aggregations of specimens which indicates swarming activities of the adults.
Palaeodiversity
Vol. 11 • No. 1
December 2018
Vol. 11 • No. 1
December 2018
amber caddisflies
micro-caddisflies
Palerasnitsynus
Psychomyiidae
swarming
