New Species of Ancient Hairy Cicada Identified

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A new genus and species of hairy cicada that lived around 100 million years ago (Cretaceous period) has been identified from a fossilized wing found in Canada.

The newly-discovered species belongs to Tettigarctidae, a family of hairy cicadas that includes only two extant species: Tettigarcta crinita and Tettigarcta tomentosa:

       

The discovery of Maculaferrum blaisi confirms the presence of the once-widespread family Tettigarctidae in North America and contributes to filling a Late Cretaceous gap in the fossil record of hairy cicadas.

“The find is exciting because it represents the oldest, diverse insect locality in Canada,” said Professor Hans Larsson, Director of the Redpath Museum at McGill University.

"This gives us a better understanding of the site's insect biodiversity during the Cretaceous, a time before the dinosaurs were wiped out," Demers-Potvin added. "The finding also illustrates that rare species can be found at the Redmond m"We were easily able to demonstrate that the insect belonged to the Tettigarctidae family thanks to the pattern of the veins we observed on its wing," said Demers-Potvin, who is also a 2018 National Geographic Explorer.ine and that it deserves the attention from the palaeontological community."

 

Image credit: Demers-Potvin

Source: http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/maculaferrum-blaisi-08154.html, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221135528.htm

[Ladey Gaygay 9,321]

ew

[Rifek 51,753]

Is dat the Rah Rah Bish? 

Edit:

Oh no, it's just her cousin or (dead) aunt