Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles

Abstract Insects exhibit a variety of morphological specializations specific to particular behaviors, and these permit the reconstruction of palaeobiological traits. Despite the critical importance of predator-prey strategies in insect evolution, the appearance of particular aspects of predation are...

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Autores principales:	Zi-Wei Yin, Chen-Yang Cai, Di-Ying Huang, Li-Zhen Li
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2017
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/7980b64659c1423e94fe73e1ff7746e2
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:7980b64659c1423e94fe73e1ff7746e22021-12-02T11:41:00ZSpecialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles10.1038/s41598-017-00187-82045-2322https://doaj.org/article/7980b64659c1423e94fe73e1ff7746e22017-03-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00187-8https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Insects exhibit a variety of morphological specializations specific to particular behaviors, and these permit the reconstruction of palaeobiological traits. Despite the critical importance of predator-prey strategies in insect evolution, the appearance of particular aspects of predation are often difficult to determine from the fossil record of hexapods. Here we report the discovery of highly specialized, mid-Cretaceous ant-like stone beetles (Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) displaying morphological modifications unknown among living scydmaenids and associated with predation on springtails (Collembola), a widespread and abundant group of significantly greater geological age. Cascomastigus monstrabilis gen. et sp. nov. exhibits an extremely large body size, elongate clubbed maxillary palpi, toothed mandibles, and more importantly, slender and highly modified antennae that functioned as an antennal setal trap. Such an antennal modification is analogous to that of the modern ground beetle genus Loricera (Carabidae: Loricerinae), a group possessing a specialized antennal setal trap exclusively for the capture of springtails. The presence of an identical antennal setal trap in C. monstrabilis demonstrates a unique and dramatic form of obligate predation among the late Mesozoic insects.Zi-Wei YinChen-Yang CaiDi-Ying HuangLi-Zhen LiNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2017)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Zi-Wei Yin Chen-Yang Cai Di-Ying Huang Li-Zhen Li Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles
description	Abstract Insects exhibit a variety of morphological specializations specific to particular behaviors, and these permit the reconstruction of palaeobiological traits. Despite the critical importance of predator-prey strategies in insect evolution, the appearance of particular aspects of predation are often difficult to determine from the fossil record of hexapods. Here we report the discovery of highly specialized, mid-Cretaceous ant-like stone beetles (Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) displaying morphological modifications unknown among living scydmaenids and associated with predation on springtails (Collembola), a widespread and abundant group of significantly greater geological age. Cascomastigus monstrabilis gen. et sp. nov. exhibits an extremely large body size, elongate clubbed maxillary palpi, toothed mandibles, and more importantly, slender and highly modified antennae that functioned as an antennal setal trap. Such an antennal modification is analogous to that of the modern ground beetle genus Loricera (Carabidae: Loricerinae), a group possessing a specialized antennal setal trap exclusively for the capture of springtails. The presence of an identical antennal setal trap in C. monstrabilis demonstrates a unique and dramatic form of obligate predation among the late Mesozoic insects.
format	article
author	Zi-Wei Yin Chen-Yang Cai Di-Ying Huang Li-Zhen Li
author_facet	Zi-Wei Yin Chen-Yang Cai Di-Ying Huang Li-Zhen Li
author_sort	Zi-Wei Yin
title	Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles
title_short	Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles
title_full	Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles
title_fullStr	Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles
title_full_unstemmed	Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles
title_sort	specialized adaptations for springtail predation in mesozoic beetles
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2017
url	https://doaj.org/article/7980b64659c1423e94fe73e1ff7746e2
work_keys_str_mv	AT ziweiyin specializedadaptationsforspringtailpredationinmesozoicbeetles AT chenyangcai specializedadaptationsforspringtailpredationinmesozoicbeetles AT diyinghuang specializedadaptationsforspringtailpredationinmesozoicbeetles AT lizhenli specializedadaptationsforspringtailpredationinmesozoicbeetles
_version_	1718395468860358656

Specialized adaptations for springtail predation in Mesozoic beetles

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