Researchers found a brand-new genus and types of micro-wasp with special round structures on its antennae from 100- million-year-old Burmese amber. The origin and function of these structures stay a secret, without any comparable functions discovered on any recognized pest. Credit: Photo supplied by George Poinar Jr., OSU College of Science.
A Unique Discovery in Amber
Fossil scientists have actually found an unique genus and < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>species</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>A species is a group of living organisms that share a set of common characteristics and are able to breed and produce fertile offspring. The concept of a species is important in biology as it is used to classify and organize the diversity of life. There are different ways to define a species, but the most widely accepted one is the biological species concept, which defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce viable offspring in nature. This definition is widely used in evolutionary biology and ecology to identify and classify living organisms.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" > types(****************** )of small wasp with a mystical, round structure at the end of each antenna.
The female micro-wasp was explained from100- million-year-oldBurmese amber in a research study led byGeorgePoinar Jr., who holds a courtesy consultation at theOregonStateUniversity College ofScience
Speculating on theMysterious“Clouds”
Poinar andFernandoVega, an independent scientist based inSilverSpring, Maryland, have some concepts about the“clouds” on the antennae, however they do not understand for sure what they are.
“We could find no fossil or extant insect with such antennal structures,” statedPoinar, a global specialist in utilizing plant and animal life types protected in amber to discover the biology and ecology of the far-off past.“We wondered how it could still fly with that weight.”
Characteristics ofMicro-Wasps
(********************************************************************************************************************************************************* )- wasps are specified as those with an adult body length of less than 2 millimeters. There are countless types of these parasitic bugs around today, spread amongst numerous genera, Poinar stated. Some work for managing scale bugs, which can be crop insects, he included.
“This micro-wasp has a length of only 1.3 millimeters,” Poinar stated. “That, as well as its 15-segment antennae, a deep cleft in the center of its head, and characters of the wings distinguish it from all other micro-wasps. The unique, miniature cloudlike structures stuck to the antennae must have certainly been an annoyance to this tiny parasite.”
Possible Theories About the Antennal Structures
Since the scientists might not discover such structures on any other pest, present or extinct, they can just make informed guesses regarding what they might be.
“They could be tiny plant seeds, plant secretions, or eggs from a host the wasp was parasitizing,” Poinar stated. “There is a good possibility the micro-wasp was parasitizing scale insects since there is a male scale insect embedded in the same piece of amber. Whatever they are, discovering these is one of the things that makes our work so interesting, and challenging: finding dominant, unique features on extinct organisms.”
Naming the New Specimen
The researchers called the brand-new specimen Caradiophyodus saradae. The genus takes its name from the Greek words for head (kara) and cleft (diaphyodus), and the types name is a nod to fellow researcher Sarada Krishnan.
Reference: “Caradiophyodidae, a New Family of Micro-Wasps (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) Based on the Description of Caradiophyodus saradae gen. et sp. nov. in Mid-< period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>Cretaceous</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>The Cretaceous is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago. It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era. It ended with the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" >CretaceousBurmeseAmber” byGeorgePoinarJr andFernando E.Vega, 7August2023,Life
DOI:103390/ life13081698
