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Moth flies are true flies belonging to the order Diptera and the family Psychodidae. They are called "moth flies" because they have very hairy wings and bodies which gives them a moth like appearance. The antennas look like a bunch of BBs strung together with wire. |
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Because most amber fossils are at least 20 million years old, most of the species found in amber are now
extinct and the same is generally true of the trees and other plants that produced the resin that
fossilized to beome the amber. Some animals found in amber represent groups such as orders and families
that are now extinct, but most, like this specimen, belong to the same order, family and perhaps genus as
currently extant species. Moth flies were quite common millions of years ago just as they are today, so
it is not unusual to find them in amber.
Perhaps some day I'll find a nice fresh live one which will produce much better pictures of the whole
insect and its parts.
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