Description

Baltimartyria is an extinct genus of early metallic moths belonging to the Micropterigidae family. This genus is exclusively identified in the Baltic amber deposits of the Early Eocene in the Baltic Sea region of Europe. Currently, it comprises two recognized species, Baltimartyria proavitella and Baltimartyria rasnitsyni.

Baltimartyria Proavitella

The initial discovery was examined and described by Hans Rebel from the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria. Rebel initially classified the species as Micropterix proavitella, assuming it was related to the modern Micropterix genus. His description was published in 1936. However, in 1995, Polish entomologist Andrzej W. Skalski reevaluated the specimen and realized it did not belong to the Micropterix genus, subsequently establishing the new genus, Baltimartyria.

Baltimartyria Rasnitsyni

Baltimartyria rasnitsyni, the second species found in Baltic amber, is also known from a single specimen. The holotype, part of the paleoentomology collections of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, represents a complete male moth encased in a transparent amber section, with partially extended wings. Due to the body's position, the right antenna and right maxillary palps are not visible, and a white coating partially obscures the upper and inner sides of the genitalia. The specimen measures 3 millimeters in body length and boasts a fore-wing length of 4 millimeters.

B. rasnitsyni can be differentiated from B. proavitella by examining the wing vein structure and maxillary palps. Unlike B. proavitella, where the R vein branches all originate separately from the cell, B. rasnitsyni's R4 and R5 veins originate from a single vein that forks on the apex side of the cell.