Two Remarkable Fossil Insect Larvae From Burmese Amber Suggest the Presence of a Terminal Filum in the Direct Stem Lineage of Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)

Schädel, Mario; Müller, Patrick; Haug, Joachim T.

doi:10.13130/2039-4942/12720

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Recently, a few organisms associated with a marine lifestyle, such as pholadid bivalves, gastropods and ammonite, and fragments of crinoid column ossicles, corals and oysters have been found attached to the outer surface of amber pieces, suggesting that the Burmese amber forest was situated close to a shifting coastal environment [ 40 , 62 ]. Furthermore, the discovery of aquatic organisms in Burmese amber, such as true crabs [ 63 ], shrimp [ 64 ], seed shrimps [ 65 ], and various aquatic and semi-aquatic insects [ 20 , 66 , 67 ], suggests the presence of abundant water bodies in the Burmese amber forest.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Group mating in Cretaceous water striders

Fu,

Cai,

Chen

et al. 2024

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Fossilized mating insects are irreplaceable material for comprehending the evolution of the mating behaviours and life-history traits in the deep-time record of insects as well as the potential sexual conflict. However, cases of mating pairs are particularly rare in fossil insects, especially aquatic or semi-aquatic species. Here, we report the first fossil record of a group of water striders in copulation (including three pairs and a single adult male) based on fossils from the mid-Cretaceous of northern Myanmar. The new taxon, Burmogerris gen. nov., likely represents one of the oldest cases of insects related to the marine environment, such as billabongs formed by the tides. It exhibits conspicuous dimorphism associated with sexual conflict: the male is equipped with a specialized protibial comb as a grasping apparatus, likely representing an adaptation to overcome female resistance during struggles. The paired Burmogerris show smaller males riding on the backs of the females, seemingly recording a scene of copulatory struggles between the sexes. Our discovery reveals a mating system dominated by males and sheds light on the potential sexual conflicts of Burmogerris in the Cretaceous. It indicates the mating behaviour remained stable over long-term geological time in these water-walking insects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Group mating in Cretaceous water striders

Fu,

Cai,

Chen

et al. 2024

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…Wichard et al, 2009) it indeed appears that in certain amber types aquatic organisms are preserved in situ (e.g. Schmidt et al, 2018;Xing et al, 2018;Yang et al, 2019;Zhao et al,2019;Gustafson et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020;Schädel et al, 2020Schädel et al, , 2021aSchädel et al, , 2021bHaug et al, 2021c;Baranov et al, 2022). Also Mexican amber is well known to preserve aquatic organisms (Huys et al, 2016 Matzke-Karasz et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A small beetle larva preserved in 23-million-year-old Mexican amber: possible first fossil record of an immature variegated mud-loving beetle

Zippel¹,

Haug²,

Gauweiler³

et al. 2022

BSGM

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Beetles occupy a vast amount of different ecological roles in both terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The often very specialised morphology of the adults can frequently be associated with their specific roles. Yet, the ecologically independent larvae of the same species are often unknown; this applies even more so to fossils. Here we report a new fossil beetle larva preserved in Mexican amber. The beetle larva was documented via digital microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography (X-ray µCT). The observed features, especially of the trunk, but also the maxillo-labial complex as well as the moulting suture of the head capsule are reminiscent to those of larvae of variegated mud-loving beetles, Heteroceridae. The trunk end is tube-like and protrudes ventro-terminally from abdomen segment 9. While present in other beetle lineages, this morphology is in these lineages, for example, not combined with a simple moulting suture. Some features potentially further supporting an interpretation as a larva of Heteroceridae are not accessible. The interpretation yet remains the most compatible one. Assuming a similar life style to modern larvae of Heteroceridae indicates an original lifestyle associated with running waters, but not within these. Heteroceridae is an ingroup of Byrrhoidea; the fossil record of byrrhoidean larvae is still very scarce. The new fossil hence adds a rare ecological function to the Miocene amber fauna, representing the first fossil record of a larva of Heteroceridae and expanding the fossil record of byrrhoidean larvae.

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“…Additionally, water isolates resin from any contact with high concentrations of oxygen in the air, slowing the resin polymerization, allowing heavier (and stronger) animals to break through several upper millimeters of a polymerized crust, and be entrapped even weeks after the resin flow was first deposited (Schmidt and Dilcher, 2007). Numerous larvae of merolimnic insects have been reported from amber before, such as dragonflies (Wichard et al, 2009;Schädel et al, 2020;Haug et al, 2021), mayflies (Wichard et al, 2009), stoneflies (Wichard et al, 2009), lacewings (Haug et al, 2020), alderflies (Wichard et al, 2009;Baranov et al, 2022), and caddisflies (Wichard et al, 2009). Recent discoveries of marine plankton (Girard et al, 2008), seed shrimps (Wang et al, 2020), aquatic isopodan crustaceans (Schädel et.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unique fossils of caddisfly larvae from Baltic amber and in situ amber formation in aquatic ecosystems

Baranov,

Hammel,

Gröhn

et al. 2023

Palaeontol Electron

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Amber is formed by tree resins in terrestrial habitats. Therefore, a preservation of animals living in water in amber may appear surprising. Still more and more finds of such animals were reported in recent years. The central question around these finds is, whether the animals became entrapped in the resin in their original habitat (in situ), or whether the aquatic animals have left their original habitat to become entrapped in the resin (ex situ). We report additional finds of caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera; Leptoceridae, Lepidostomatidae) in Baltic amber. Two of these still bear their cases, which should not be present for caddisfly larvae, which escaped the waterbodies and became entrapped ex situ. One of the two is preserved with additional caddisfly larvae as well as a larva of a seemingly aquatic non-biting midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) attached to its caddis case. These finds further support a possible in situ preservation of aquatic animals in amber.

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Two Remarkable Fossil Insect Larvae From Burmese Amber Suggest the Presence of a Terminal Filum in the Direct Stem Lineage of Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Group mating in Cretaceous water striders

Group mating in Cretaceous water striders

A small beetle larva preserved in 23-million-year-old Mexican amber: possible first fossil record of an immature variegated mud-loving beetle

Unique fossils of caddisfly larvae from Baltic amber and in situ amber formation in aquatic ecosystems

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