The 0.2-inch-long specimen was identified in amber from the Baltic Sea region in northern Europe.
study describing the new species, said this was the first caterpillar from a large butterfly species to be found preserved in an ancient block of amber from the Baltic.
This caterpillar likely became trapped in resin from a tree which eventually hardened into amber over millions of years. The scientists say that resin would be runnier than normal in direct sunlight or warmer daytime temperatures. The delicate bodies of butterflies and caterpillars also mean that they do not preserve in amber very well.belongs to the butterfly family called Geometridae, which is unknown from Baltic amber. The Baltic region is home to the largest deposit of amber in the world.Caterpillars from this family are unusual compared to those from other butterfly groups because they only have two or three pairs of legs, instead of five—the most common number.
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