ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Biology

100-million-year-old fossilized larvae got a tasty meal by pretending to be a liverwort

A wolf in sheep's clothing.

Elena MotivansbyElena Motivans
April 26, 2018
in Archaeology, Biology, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

It is a dog eat dog world — sometimes the only way to survive is to hide. Camouflage is an approach not only employed by the military, but also by many animals, including leopards and stick insects. A 100-million-year-old fossil has been found that brings a new mimic to light. A new lacewing species imitates a liverwort which, although it is a common plant, is rarely mimicked.

Liverworts are a diverse group of plants that were among the earliest to evolve. Hence, they are relatively primitive and need to live in moist environments. They were extremely common in the Paleozoic period and exist to this day. There are currently about 9,000 species of liverworts and they tend to grow on trees and other plant surfaces. Strangely, there are very few insects that mimic liverworts, among both living animals and fossils. It could simply be that no one has noticed them before.

An illustration of what the lacewing larvae could have looked like among liverworts. Image credits: YANG Dinghua.

Attentive researchers from China Agricultural University, the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology (NIGP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and their colleagues found two larvae of a new species of lacewing in Cretaceous Burmese amber. This discovery is the first case of fossilized insects that mimic liverworts. It is also the first time that lacewing larvae have been seen imitating something else. The research was published in Current Biology.

The larva has broadly foliate lateral plates on its thorax and abdomen making this the only lacewing species with this feature. It makes them look like liverwort leaves that match some coeval liverworts.

B, E, G are the fossilized larvae, the others are liverworts. Image credits: Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology.

The larvae probably fed upon small arthropods, such as coccoids, psyllids, thrips, or barklice, according to Dr. Bo Wang from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology. Therefore, these larvae were not camouflaging themselves to avoid being eaten, but rather to appear unsuspecting so that they could get their prey.

“Green lacewing larvae have several different camouflage mechanisms. Some extant and extinct ones have long dorsal setae to carry some camouflaging materials. But our new fossils are different from them in lacking the setae. Some green lacewing larvae carry their own prey on the back to provide physical and/or chemical camouflage. This is an extreme adaptation that functions as a “wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing” strategy,” said Dr. Wang to ZME Science.

By imitating a liverwort and living among them, the larvae could potentially be overlooked and get an easy meal.

Journal reference: Wang et al. 2018. Current Biology.

RelatedPosts

How cycling races could help scientists study the effects of climate change
Heat pumps are way more efficient than fossil fuels and this study clearly demonstrates it
AstroPictures of the day: Mind blowing pictures taken by Reid Wiseman from the ISS.
AI is scheming to stay online — and then lying to humans

ShareTweetShare
Elena Motivans

Elena Motivans

I've always liked the way that words can sound together. Combined with my love for nature (and biology background), I'm interested in diving deep into different topics- in the natural world even the most mundane is fascinating!

Related Posts

Culture & Society

What’s Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

byAlexandra Gerea
3 hours ago
Mind & Brain

Why a 20-Minute Nap Could Be Key to Unlocking ‘Eureka!’ Moments Like Salvador Dalí

byTibi Puiu
3 hours ago
Anthropology

The world’s oldest boomerang is even older than we thought, but it’s not Australian

byMihai Andrei
4 hours ago
Future

Swarms of tiny robots could go up your nose, melt the mucus and clean your sinuses

byMihai Andrei
7 hours ago

Recent news

What’s Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

June 28, 2025

Why a 20-Minute Nap Could Be Key to Unlocking ‘Eureka!’ Moments Like Salvador Dalí

June 28, 2025

The world’s oldest boomerang is even older than we thought, but it’s not Australian

June 27, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.