Original paper
Overview of and taphonomic bias in Archostemata (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Cretaceous amber
Song, Zhenyu; Zhao, Xianye; Jarzembowski, Edmund A.; Xiao, Chuantao
Palaeontographica Abteilung A Band 323 Lieferung 4-6 (2022), p. 119 - 137
82 references
published: Sep 1, 2022
published online: Jul 8, 2022
manuscript accepted: May 2, 2022
manuscript received: Jan 30, 2022
Abstract
Archostemata are a notable element of Mesozoic insect faunas. Prior to the present study, a total of 35 species, including an indeterminate one, from 18 genera have been reported from Cretaceous amber. These are mainly ommatid and cupedid reticulated beetles, with only 3 species, including an indeterminate one, belonging to micromalthids. Most specimens are preserved in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, with only a larval specimen of Cretomalthus acracrowsonorum Kirejtshuk & Azar, 2008 being from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber. Permutation test based on body parameters was performed to analyze taphonomic bias about specimen size. Results of permutation test indicate that Cretaceous archostematans preserved in rock are significantly larger than amber-inclusions. This bias may be caused by a combination of size, body structure, behavior, habitat preferences as well as collectors.
Keywords
Coleoptera • Archostemata • Cretaceous • amber • taphonomy