First fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implication

Abstract We present here the first-ever fossil flies from the family Deuterophlebiidae. The recent adults have an exceptionally brief lifespan, with males surviving only two hours. Their distinctive features include a complete reduction of mouthparts, and wing venation characterized by a dense net o...

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Main Authors: Ewa Krzemińska, Agnieszka Soszyńska, Iwona Kania-Kłosok, Kornelia Skibińska, Katarzyna Kopeć, Thomas van de Kamp, Qingqing Zhang, Wiesław Krzemiński
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75389-y
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author Ewa Krzemińska
Agnieszka Soszyńska
Iwona Kania-Kłosok
Kornelia Skibińska
Katarzyna Kopeć
Thomas van de Kamp
Qingqing Zhang
Wiesław Krzemiński
author_facet Ewa Krzemińska
Agnieszka Soszyńska
Iwona Kania-Kłosok
Kornelia Skibińska
Katarzyna Kopeć
Thomas van de Kamp
Qingqing Zhang
Wiesław Krzemiński
author_sort Ewa Krzemińska
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We present here the first-ever fossil flies from the family Deuterophlebiidae. The recent adults have an exceptionally brief lifespan, with males surviving only two hours. Their distinctive features include a complete reduction of mouthparts, and wing venation characterized by a dense net of false veins replacing most of true veins. Due to this distinctive venation the phylogenetic position of Deuterophlebiidae was unclear, compounded by the absence of fossils that could shed light on the early development of these characters. Two new genera and species are described from Burmese amber, Protodeuterophlebia oosterbroeki Krzemiński, Krzemińska & Soszyńska, gen. et sp. nov. and Cretodeuterophlebia courtneyi, Krzemiński, Skibińska & Kopeć, gen. et sp. nov. They date back the age of the family to the mid-Cretaceous. Notably, the fossils reveal first false veins and reduced mouthparts, suggesting a short lifespan in these Cretaceous mountain midges. A comparative analysis of wing venation indicated the Hennigmatidae as a plausible ancestral group to the Deuterophlebiidae. A syninclusion of mayfly indicates the coexistence of these short-lived insects during the same flight period. This synchrony extends to their brief time in flight aligning with the flow of fluid resin. The occurrence of these simultaneous events is extremely low, emphasizing the significance of these findings.
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spelling doaj-art-53eee0a992814aed855da1e265ba29f82025-08-20T02:11:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-10-0114111410.1038/s41598-024-75389-yFirst fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implicationEwa Krzemińska0Agnieszka Soszyńska1Iwona Kania-Kłosok2Kornelia Skibińska3Katarzyna Kopeć4Thomas van de Kamp5Qingqing Zhang6Wiesław Krzemiński7Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of SciencesFaculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of LodzInstitute of Biology, University of RzeszówInstitute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of SciencesInstitute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of SciencesInstitute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, Institute of Palaeontology Yunnan UniversityInstitute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of SciencesAbstract We present here the first-ever fossil flies from the family Deuterophlebiidae. The recent adults have an exceptionally brief lifespan, with males surviving only two hours. Their distinctive features include a complete reduction of mouthparts, and wing venation characterized by a dense net of false veins replacing most of true veins. Due to this distinctive venation the phylogenetic position of Deuterophlebiidae was unclear, compounded by the absence of fossils that could shed light on the early development of these characters. Two new genera and species are described from Burmese amber, Protodeuterophlebia oosterbroeki Krzemiński, Krzemińska & Soszyńska, gen. et sp. nov. and Cretodeuterophlebia courtneyi, Krzemiński, Skibińska & Kopeć, gen. et sp. nov. They date back the age of the family to the mid-Cretaceous. Notably, the fossils reveal first false veins and reduced mouthparts, suggesting a short lifespan in these Cretaceous mountain midges. A comparative analysis of wing venation indicated the Hennigmatidae as a plausible ancestral group to the Deuterophlebiidae. A syninclusion of mayfly indicates the coexistence of these short-lived insects during the same flight period. This synchrony extends to their brief time in flight aligning with the flow of fluid resin. The occurrence of these simultaneous events is extremely low, emphasizing the significance of these findings.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75389-yCretaceousBurmese amberNew speciesNew genusPalaeoecologyVetuformosa
spellingShingle Ewa Krzemińska
Agnieszka Soszyńska
Iwona Kania-Kłosok
Kornelia Skibińska
Katarzyna Kopeć
Thomas van de Kamp
Qingqing Zhang
Wiesław Krzemiński
First fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implication
Scientific Reports
Cretaceous
Burmese amber
New species
New genus
Palaeoecology
Vetuformosa
title First fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implication
title_full First fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implication
title_fullStr First fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implication
title_full_unstemmed First fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implication
title_short First fossil mountain midges (Diptera, Deuterophlebiidae) and their evolutionary and ecological implication
title_sort first fossil mountain midges diptera deuterophlebiidae and their evolutionary and ecological implication
topic Cretaceous
Burmese amber
New species
New genus
Palaeoecology
Vetuformosa
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75389-y
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