High niche diversity in Mesozoic pollinating lacewings

Qing Liu, Xiumei Lu, Qingqing Zhang, Jun Chen, Xiaoting Zheng, Weiwei Zhang, Xingyue Liu () and Bo Wang ()
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Qing Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiumei Lu: China Agricultural University
Qingqing Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jun Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaoting Zheng: Linyi University
Weiwei Zhang: Three Gorges Entomological Museum
Xingyue Liu: China Agricultural University
Bo Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Niche diversity of pollinating insects plays a vital role in maintaining extant terrestrial ecosystems. A key dimension of pollination niches refers to the insect proboscis length that commonly matches the floral tube length. Here we describe new kalligrammatid lacewings (an iconic Mesozoic pollinating insect lineage) from late Cretaceous Burmese amber and Mesozoic sediments in China. Kalligrammatids display complex configurations of elongate mouthpart elements consisting of well-developed maxillae, labium and their palps. The mouthpart lengths vary among species, from 0.6 to 18.0 mm, suggesting corresponding variability in the floral tube lengths of Mesozoic plants. With the diversification of pollinating habits, the kalligrammatids presented highly divergent traits related to chemical communication and defence mechanisms. Together with other Mesozoic long-proboscid insects, these fossils not only reveal the high niche diversity of Mesozoic pollinating insects but also highlight the diversity of Mesozoic pollinator-dependent plants prior to the rise of angiosperms.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06120-5

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