Abstract:  Pamphiliidae, the most prominent family of Pamphilioidea, have a rich variety of living species. Some species of this family are important forest pests, and have historically broken out and done harm to forest trees in Europe and the north of China. A total of 7 genera with 14 species have been reported worldwide in Pamphiliidae. All of them are distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and recorded from the Middle Jurassic to the Miocene. In a phylogenetic study of Pamphilioidea which combines living and fossil species, the monophyly of Pamphiliidae has been confirmed, but the position of some fossil genera and Neurotoma remains questionable in Pamphiliidae. Additionally, the current phylogenetic classification divides Pamphiliidae into three subfamilies: Juralydinae, Cephalciinae and Pamphiliinae. The former one only contains most of the fossil genera, while the latter two are mainly composed of living genera and species. Living subfamilies are distinguished by tiny structures such as the body color, the texture of apical spurs in the tibia, and the arrangement of the tarsal inner tooth. In contrast, Juralydinae are mainly identified and distinguished by easily preserved features such as wing veins and antennae due to the limitation of fossil materials. With the accumulation of specimens in recent years, Juralydinae have undergone three revisions and only 1-Rs about half as long as, or slightly longer than, 1-M in forewing is treated as the diagnostic characteristic. Some other potential features, such as the size and arrangement of the tarsal inner teeth, and the bifurcation of Sc in hind wing are also noticed. But these features have only been observed in part of fossil genera and species, and whether they are stable still needs to be explored. The differences between the taxonomic system of fossil taxa and living taxa are not only found in Pamphiliidae but also common in other insect taxa. Only by continuously accumulating specimens and using more advanced and comprehensive methods to tap into the information of each specimen can we build a bridge connecting between fossil and living taxa and scientifically explore their evolution.

Key words: Pamphilioidea, Juralydinae, taxonomy, insect fossils, phylogeny