Morphological and behavioral convergence in extinct and extant bugs: the systematics and biology of a new unusual fossil lace bug from the eocene

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 12;10(8):e0133330. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133330. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The bug Gyaclavator kohlsi Wappler, Guilbert, Wedmann et Labandeira, gen. et sp. nov., represents a new extinct genus of lace bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Tingidae) occurring in latest early Eocene deposits of the Green River Formation, from the southern Piceance Basin of Northwestern Colorado, in North America. Gyaclavator can be placed within the Tingidae with certainty, perhaps it is sistergroup to Cantacaderinae. If it belongs to Cantacaderinae, it is the first fossil record of this group for North America. Gyaclavator has unique, conspicuous antennae bearing a specialized, highly dilated distiflagellomere, likely important for intra- or intersex reproductive competition and attraction. This character parallels similar antennae in leaf-footed bugs (Coreidae), and probably is associated with a behavioral convergence as well.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colorado
  • Extinction, Biological
  • Fossils*
  • Genetic Speciation
  • Geologic Sediments
  • Heteroptera / anatomy & histology*
  • Heteroptera / classification*
  • Heteroptera / physiology
  • Phylogeny*

Grants and funding

This research was possible thanks to grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, grant no WE 2942/6-1 to S. W., grant no WE 2942/6-2 to S. W. and T. W., and grant no HO 2306/ 6-1 6-2 to T. H.) (www.dfg.de) and by the research funding programme “LOEWE—Landes-Offensive zur Entwicklung Wissenschaftlich-ökonomischer Exzellenz" of Hesse's Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and the Arts. (https://wissenschaft.hessen.de/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.