First fossil true water bugs (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha) from Upper Jurassic strata of North America (Morrison Formation, southeastern Utah)

14th Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota

“…Specimens include impressions/compressions of insects and crustaceans (e.g., crayfishes, spinicaudatans). A thin, brown organic film somewhat similar to the color and preservational appearance of the plant material is observed on JSB fossil arthropods (Lara et al, 2020). The JSB fossil insect fauna is limited but promising, having not been recognized from the site until 2019.…”

“…Morrisonnepa jurassica (FHPR 17299) is a relatively large insect, with preserved length of 25.4 mm. The insect consists of an incomplete specimen in dorsal view, with mostly disarticulated elements including a forewing (hemelytra), clavus, possible head, and scutellum, five (articulated) abdominal segments, and a pair of short and tubular structures (similar to respiratory processes observed in true water bugs [Lara et al, 2020]). The most recent findings from the JSB include a new crayfish, spinicaudatans, a beetle, and other unidentified arthropods.…”

“…The JSB fossil insect fauna is limited but promising, having not been recognized from the site until 2019. The first recognized and formally described insect specimen (Figure 1a, b) from JSB was a nepomorph hemipteran, Morrisonnepa jurassica, with broad similarities to modern giant water bugs (Lara et al, 2020). Morrisonnepa jurassica (FHPR 17299) is a relatively large insect, with preserved length of 25.4 mm.…”

“…The fossil plant collection occupies more than 450 catalog numbers in the collections of the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum (FHPR), although the total number of plant remains gathered so far probably exceeds 1000. In addition, the site preserves conchostracans, crayfish, insects such as a nepomorph (Lara et al, 2020), caddisflies, and a beetle, as well as fish and amphibians .…”

Decomposition of dinosaurian remains inferred by invertebrate traces on vertebrate bone reveal new insights into Late Jurassic ecology, decay, and climate in western Colorado

“…The invertebrate faunas in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation have received little attention in comparison to their better-known dinosaurian counterparts. Unlike the more prolifically preserved dinosaurian assemblages, invertebrates are rare as body fossils with some groups, like insects, being virtually absent from the fossil record ( Gorman et al, 2008 ; Hasiotis, 2004 ; Lara et al, 2020 ; Zherikhin, 2003 ). Incorporating traces fossils, such as burrows, tracks, borings and feeding marks, has revealed a more complete picture of invertebrate diversity within Late Jurassic ecosystems in North America, and the ichnological record of invertebrate traces made on geological substrates has been documented from sites across the Morrison Formation ( Hasiotis, 1999 , 2004 ; Turner & Peterson, 2004 ).…”