| Archaeolepis mane | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Archaeolepidae |
| Genus: | Archaeolepis Whalley, 1985 |
| Species: | A. mane |
| Binomial name | |
| Archaeolepis mane Whalley, 1985 |
|
Archaeolepis mane is the earliest known Lepidopteran fossil. It dates from the Lower Jurassic (ca 190 million years ago) and according to Grimaldi & Engel (2005)[1] a recent re-examination of the specimen has given additional support to its ordinal placement. The fossil consists of a pair of wings with scales that are characteristically similar to the wing venation pattern found in Trichoptera (caddisflies).
The fossil was found in Dorset in the United Kingdom.