At first glance, the newly-named fossil hangingfly Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia doesn’t look especially impressive. Found in the roughly 165 million year old beds of China’s Jiulongshan Formation, and described by paleontologist Yongjie Wang and colleagues today in PNAS, the insect looks quite similar to its thin-bodied, stilt-legged, long-winged living relatives. But when taken in context with the various other organisms found in the same beds, a subtle connection comes into focus. The ancient hangingfly, Wang and co-authors propose, was a mimic of Jurassic ginkgo trees.
Mimicry isn’t a new development among insects. The evolutionary connection between arthropods and the vegetation they resemble may go back over 300 million years, and, among modern forms, has adapted insects so intricately that they even show markings similar to fungus and lichen common on the plants they are supposed to look like. Juracimbrophlebia isn’t even the first mimic insect to be found in the high-resolution fossil slabs of the Jiulongshan Formation. Nevertheless, this is the first time a hangingfly has been found to mimic a plant.
In order to blend in on the Jurassic ginkgo Yimaia capituliformis, tricky Juracimbrophlebia had to spread its wings. When held just so, the elongated, veined wings of the insect resembled the multi-lobed shape of the ginkgo leaves. This is assuming that the mimicry hypothesis is correct. The insect and the leaves show a close resemblance, but how can we test this hypothesis 165 million years after these organisms shared the same forest? The hangingfly does resemble the ginkgo, that much is clear, but how can we tell whether or not the insect’s anatomy was a form of camouflage or just coincidentally similar?
But let’s run with the mimicry hypothesis. Under this scenario, Wang and collaborators propose that the hangingfly might have been hiding from the insectivorous mammals, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, lizards, and amphibians that inhabited the same forest. (The same cast of arthropod-crunchers was recently cast as a threat to the katydid Archaboilus musicus, found in the same formation and known from a set of wings researchers recently used to reconstruct the insect’s song.) Alternatively, Juracimbrophlebia might have been a predator itself – the hangingfly could have ambushed the various insects which fed upon prehistoric ginkgo trees. Perhaps the mimicry proved advantageous in both respects. The span of time between us the Jurassic forest prevents us from knowing – such tantalizing traces of prehistoric interactions only come to life in our imaginations.
Reference:
Wang, W., Labandeira, C., Shih, C., Ding, Q., Wang, C., Zhao, Y., Ren, D. 2012. Jurassic mimicry between a hangingfly and a ginkgo from China. PNAS www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1205517109
Go Further
Animals
- These 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animalsThese 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animals
- These photos are works of art—and the artists are bugsThese photos are works of art—and the artists are bugs
- The epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfishThe epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfish
- Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75
Environment
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
- The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?
- The most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater weldersThe most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater welders
- The harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to surviveThe harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to survive
History & Culture
- Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’
- A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.
- Meet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural iconMeet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural icon
- Inside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysicsInside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysics
Science
- LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?
- NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.
- Humans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying themHumans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying them
- Why engineers are concerned about aging infrastructureWhy engineers are concerned about aging infrastructure
Travel
- 2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip
- Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada
- Paid Content
Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada