Dominican Amber - Fossil Ecosystems of North America: A Guide to the Sites and their Extraordinary Biotas - page 238

evidence that larger water bodies were
available in the amber forest. Caddis flies
have hairy wings while Lepidoptera
(butterflies and moths) have scaly
ones. The larger Lepidoptera (macrolepi-
dopterans) are strong fliers and, while
many are attracted to resin seeps, are

unlikely to become entrapped ( 273 ).
Indeed, most representatives of
the Lepidoptera found in Dominican
amber are microlepidopterans, small
moths. Macrolepidopterans captured in
Dominican amber include metalmark
butterflies (Riodinidae). An adult Napaea

272

272 A fruit fly Drosophilidae
PC. Length about 5 mm
0.2 in.

273

273 A newly emerged moth, its wings only
partially expanded, became caught in the resin
while walking up the tree trunk PC. Length
about 8 mm 0.3 in.