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Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context pp 549–554Cite as

Lepidoptera, Insecta

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Abstract

A fossil Lepidoptera from Laetoli is described and illustrated. EP 352/03 is a pupa of an Emperor Silkmoth (Saturniidae) belonging to the tribe Bunaeini of the subfamily Saturniinae. Comparisons are made with pupae of several extant species of Bunaeini, the closest match being with Cirina forda, allowing aspects of the biology of EP 352/03 to be predicted.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank an anonymous reviewer, and particularly Rolf Oberprieler for sharing his knowledge of the pupae of African Saturniidae. His very insightful and detailed comments and suggestions have greatly improved this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    Ian J. Kitching & S. Sadler

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  1. Ian J. Kitching
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  2. S. Sadler
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Correspondence to Ian J. Kitching .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for the Study of Human Origins Department of Anthropology, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Terry Harrison

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Kitching, I.J., Sadler, S. (2011). Lepidoptera, Insecta. In: Harrison, T. (eds) Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9962-4_20

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