2020 in paleoentomology


2020 in paleoentomology


2020 in paleoentomology is a list of new fossil insect taxa that were described during the year 2020, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleoentomology that were scheduled to occur during the year.

Clade Amphiesmenoptera

Lepidoptera

Tarachoptera

Trichopterans

Clade Antliophora

Dipterans

Mecopterans

Siphonaptera

Clade Archaeorthoptera

†Caloneurodea

Orthopterans

Other Archaeorthoptera

Archaeorthopteran research

  • A study on the evolutionary history of the group Phasmatodea, as indicated by phylogenomic and fossil evidence, is published by Tihelka et al. (2020).

Clade Coleopterida

Coleopterans

Strepsiptera

Clade Dictyoptera

Dictyopteran research

  • A new assemblage of nests produced by social insects is described from the Brushy Basin Member of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Utah, United States) by Smith, Loewen & Kirkland (2020), who name a new ichnotaxon Eopolis ekdalei. The nests are attributed to soil dwelling social termites, suggesting an early Jurassic transition to ground nesting in arid areas for the group.
  • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the Cretaceous insect Umenocoleus is published by Beutel, Luo & Wipfler (2020).
  • A study on the evolutionary history of dictyopterans, based on molecular and fossil data, is published by Condamine et al. (2020).
  • Fossil oothecae produced by dictyopteran insects, representing the earliest fossil evidence of oothecae reported so far, are described from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) Potrerillos Formation (Argentina) by Cariglino, Lara & Zavattieri (2020), who name new ichnotaxa Oothecichnus pensilis and Oothecichnus duraznensis.
Collection James Bond 007

Clade Eoblattida

Hymenopterans

Hymenopteran research

  • 100-million-year-old sweat bee nests, representing the oldest evidence of crown bees reported so far, are described from the Castillo Formation (Argentina) by Genise et al. (2020).
  • A single worker of Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri preserved restraining a Caputoraptor elegans nymph is described from the Cretaceous Burmese amber by Barden, Perrichot & Wang (2020), who argue that the aberrant morphology of fossil haidomyrmecine "hell ants" (scythe-like mouthparts and horn-like cephalic projections) was an adaptation for prey capture.
  • Evidence of polymorphism within worker caste of ants belonging to the species Zigrasimecia ferox is presented by Cao et al. (2020).
  • A study comparing the relative lengths of legs of ants from Baltic amber (Formica flori and members of the genus Cataglyphoides) and extant ants belonging to the genera Cataglyphis and Formica will be published by Wehner, Rabenstein & Habersetzer (2020), who report that the Cataglyphoides data are fully in accord with the Cataglyphis pattern of the leg-to-body length relationships, and discuss evolutionary implications of their findings.

Clade Neuropterida

Megalopterans

Neuropterans

Neuropteran research

  • Three neuropteran larvae with straight mandibulomaxillary stylets, representing some of the oldest straight-jawed neuropteran larvae reported so far, are described from the Aptian amber from Spain by Pérez-de la Fuente et al. (2020).
  • New type of a lacewing larva, with a prominent forward projecting labrum and curved venom-injecting stylets formed by mandibles and maxillae, is described from the Cretaceous Burmese amber by Haug et al. (2020).

Raphidioptera

Raphidiopteran research

  • A snakefly larva with a very prominent, leg-sized antenna is described from the Cretaceous Burmese amber by Haug, Müller & Haug (2020), who discuss the implications of this specimen for the knowledge of the early evolution and diversification of snakeflies.

Clade †Palaeodictyopteroidea

†Megasecoptera

†Palaeodictyoptera

Other palaeodictyopteroids

Clade Palaeoptera

Ephemeropterans

Odonatoptera

Clade †Paoliidea

†Paoliida

Clade Paraneoptera

Hemipterans

Hemipteran research

  • Revision of the cicadomorph genera Ipsvicia and Ipsviciopsis from the Upper Triassic Blackstone Formation (Australia) is published by Lambkin (2020).

Psocodea

Thysanoptera

Clade Perlidea

Dermapterans

Embioptera

Phasmatodea

Plecopterans

Clade †Reculida

†Cnemidolestida

Other Reculida

Other insects

General research

  • Two pieces of Burmese amber, preserving several closely associated stylets of lacewing larvae (likely representing regurgitated remains previously consumed by an unknown predator) and a mite inserted with its anterior body into a lacewing larva and likely preying on it, are described by Hörnig et al. (2020).
  • A study on the morphology and phylogenetic relationships of the mysteriomorphid beetles, based on data from new specimens from the Cretaceous Burmese amber, is published by Peris et al. (2020).
  • Baranov et al. (2020) describe new records of Mesozoic and Cenozoic stratiomyomorphan fly larvae representing six discrete morphotypes, and evaluate the implications of these specimens for the knowledge of stratiomyomorphan ecomorphology and ecology throughout their evolutionary history.
  • Evidence of the presence of diverse metallic colours in beetles, flies and hymenopterans from the Cretaceous Burmese amber is presented by Cai et al. (2020).

References


Text submitted to CC-BY-SA license. Source: 2020 in paleoentomology by Wikipedia (Historical)



 
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