Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5 No. 3: June 2022
Type: Short Communication
Published: 2022-06-23
DOI: 10.11646/palaeoentomology.5.3.3
Page range: 222–225
Abstract views: 372
PDF downloaded: 20

Debris-carrying psocodean nymph from Lebanese amber

State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; Lebanese University, Faculty of Science II, Natural Sciences Department, Fanar - El-Matn, PO box 26110217, Lebanon; Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB) Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, CP50, 57 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris, France
General

Abstract

Camouflage, or decorating, has been reported in fossilised immatures of different insect groups, notably Neuroptera (Chrysopidae, Nymphidae, and Ascalaphidae), Coleoptera (Chrysomelidae), Trichoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera (Gelastocoridae, Reduviidae), and Psocodea (‘Psocoptera’ or non-parasitic lice) (Pérez-de la Fuente et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2016; Kiesmüller et al., 2021; Xu et al., 2021). Such behaviours allow effective concealment of immatures from predators and/or prey by carrying vegetal debris, soil, dust and, sometimes, arthropod remains on the thorax and/or abdomen.

References

  1. Azar, D., Gèze, R. & Acra, F. (2010) Chapter 14. Lebanese amber, pp. 271–298. In: Penney, D. (Ed.), Biodiversity of fossils in amber from the major world deposits. Siri Scientific Press, Manchester, 304 pp.
  2. Betz, B.W. (1983) The biology of Trichadenotecnum alexanderae Sommerman (Psocoptera: Psocidae): I. Habitat, life stages and events. Entomological News, 94 (4), 152–158.
  3. Boucot, A.J. & Poinar, G.O., Jr. (2010) Fossil behavior compendium. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 424 pp. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781439810590
  4. Henderson, A. & Hackett, D.J. (1986) Lichen and algal camouflage and dispersal in the psocid nymph Trichadenotecnum fasciatum. The Lichenologist, 18 (2), 199–200. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282986000257
  5. Kiesmüller, C., Haug, J.T., Müller, P. & Hörnig, M.K. (2021) Debris carrying behaviour of bark lice immatures preserved in 100 million years old amber. PalZ, 96, 231–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-021-00567-6
  6. Lienhard, C. (1988) Three new extra-neotropical species of Troctopsocidae (Insecta: Psocoptera). Journal of Natural History, 22 (3), 575–587. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222938800770391
  7. Lienhard, C. (1998) Psocoptères euro-méditerranéens. Faune de France, 83, i–xx, 1–517.
  8. Lienhard, C. & Baz, A. (2011) Redescription of the genus Marcenendius Navás (Psocodea: Psocoptera: Amphientomidae) with a key to western Palaearctic amphientomids. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 118 (3), 451–466.
  9. Maksoud, S. & Azar, D. (2020) Lebanese amber: latest updates. Palaeoentomology, 3 (2), 125–155. https://doi.org/10.11646/palaeoentomology.3.2.2
  10. Maksoud, S., Azar, D., Granier, B. & Gèze, R. (2017) New data on the age of the Lower Cretaceous amber outcrops of Lebanon. Palaeoworld, 26 (2), 331–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2016.03.003
  11. Mockford, E.L. (1974) Trichadenotecnum circularoides (Psocoptera: Psocidae) in Southeastern United States, with notes on its reproduction and immature stages. The Florida Entomologist, 57 (4), 369–370. https://doi.org/10.2307/3493496
  12. Mockford, E.L. (1993) North American Psocoptera (Insecta). Fauna and Flora Handbook no. 10. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 480 pp.
  13. Pérez-de la Fuente, R., Delclòs, X., Peñalver, E., Speranza, M., Wierzchos, J., Ascaso, C. & Engel, M.S. (2012) Early evolution and ecology of camouflage in insects. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109 (52), 21414–21419. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1213775110
  14. Smithers, C.N. (1972) The classification and phylogeny of the Psocoptera. The Australian Museum Memoir, 14, 1–351. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1967.14.1972.424
  15. Smithers, C.N. (1995) Final instar nymph of Psilopsocus nebulosus Mockford (Psocoptera: Psilopsocidae), redescribed and compared with two wood-boring species of the genus. Beiträge zur Entomologie, 45 (2), 375–381. https://doi.org/10.21248/contrib.entomol.45.2.375-381
  16. Wang, B., Xia, F.Y., Engel, M.S., Perrichot, V., Shi, G.L., Zhang, H.C., Chen, J., Jarzembowski, E.A., Wappler, T. & Rust, J. (2016) Debris-carrying camouflage among diverse lineages of Cretaceous insects. Science Advances, 2 (6), e1501918. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1501918
  17. Xu, C.P., Wang, B., Fan, L., Jarzembowski, E.A., Fang, Y., Wang, H., Li, T., Zhuo, D., Ding, M. & Engel, M.S. (2021) Widespread mimicry and camouflage among mid-Cretaceous insects. Gondwana Research, 101, 94–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2021.07.025