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https://theconversation.com/fossil-beetles-found-in-a-botswana-diamond-mine-help-us-to-reconstruct-the-distant-past-226661>
"When most people think of fossils they probably picture bones. But there’s
much more to the global fossil record: plants, shells, minerals and insects.
The study of fossil insects is called palaeoentomology. Palaeoentomologists
like myself seek out and study fossil insects that were trapped in mud which
later became rock sediments, and those found in amber (tree resin).
Very few deposits containing either fossil plants or fossil insects, or both,
have been found so far on the African continent, or in the southern hemisphere
more broadly, particularly those dating back to the Cretaceous period, some 145
million to 66 million years ago.
There are likely two reasons for the rarity of the deposits. The first is that
there are very few researchers working on fossil insects compared to those
researching dinosaurs and therapsids, for instance. The second could be a
sampling bias (prioritising deposits that are already known), which is usually
driven by the accessibility and interests.
One of the few Cretaceous age deposits that’s been discovered in Africa is at
Botswana’s Orapa Diamond Mine. The mine, situated about 240km west of
Francistown, has been dated using a sample of zircon isotopes on the sediments
to be about 90 million years old. Based on geological processes we know to have
occurred there, we’re able to say that the fossil insects preserved are the
same age as the deposit.
Recently a team I lead discovered two new species of rove beetles preserved in
the sediments of the Orapa Diamond Mine. Rove beetles are typically identified
by their unique short elytra (protective wing cases) which expose the rest of
the abdomen. Our finds are the first fossil rove beetles ever discovered on the
continent and in the southern hemisphere. I’ve named the stenine rove beetle
Afristenus orapensis and the staphylinine rove beetle
Paleothius mckayi.
The former is named after the deposit and the latter is named in honour of my
mentor, the late Dr Ian James McKay, who died in 2022. He trained me to become
the African continent’s first black palaeoentomologist.
The findings contribute to a more complete and accurate documentation of life
on Earth, offering a clue into our planet’s long and intricate history. They
also showcase how unchanged some life forms have been over the ages."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
