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A close-up view of the well-preserved Cretophengodes azari, a light-producing fossil beetle encased in amber.
Chenyang Cai
A beetle trapped in amber for more than 100 million years offers scientists clues as to why bioluminescent insects may have glowed during the Cretaceous period, around 145 to 66 million years ago.
In a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, scientists reveal that a Cretophengodes beetle found “preserved with lifelong fidelity in amber” has a direct connection to its firefly cousins.
Why ancient beetles could shine has been a bit of a mystery to scientists. But based on their distant relatives like fireflies, scientists believe this feature could likely have been used as a defense against predators, as well as a way to attract mates – much like modern beetle larvae alike. family used the light.
“The discovery of a new family of extinct Elateroid beetles is important,” study co-author Erik Tihelka of the School of Earth Sciences said in a statement, “because it helps shed light on the evolution of these fascinating beetles. ”
Here is an artistic reconstruction of a male and female Azari Cretophengodes in the undergrowth of a Cretaceous rainforest.
Dinghua Yang
Because this particular beetle fossil was well preserved in amber, scientists were able to see the luminous organ on the abdomen of the male beetle. This proves that adult Cretophengodia were able to produce light, around 100 million years ago.
The majority of light-producing beetles belong to the Elateroidea family, which has more than 24,000 known species. The discovery of this beetle provides the missing fossil link between living families and, in doing so, helps scientists understand how these beetles evolved and how they should be classified.
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