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Glowing prehistoric beetle Artistic reconstruction of Cretophengodes azari gen. et sp. nov. Credit: Dinghua Yang Glowing insects like fireflies, fire beetles and worms are a romantic, magical sight – but the fossil record of their light-producing adaptations is sparse. A beetle has now shone some of its light on this conundrum. It was unsuspectingly trapped and exquisitely preserved in golden amber in a dinosaur-dominant rainforest ecosystem about 100 million years ago. “With over 3500 described species, beetles are the most diverse light-producing organisms on land, but when and how their pyrotechnic abilities came about has long remained a mystery,” says Erik Tihelka, from the University of Bristol, UK, co-author of a study published in the journal ....
A 99-million-year-old beetle recently discovered by researchers may have just shed "light" on one of the most fascinating and mysterious abilities some animals have. ....
E-Mail IMAGE: Artistic reconstruction of Cretophengodes azari male and female in the undergrowth of a Cretaceous rainforest. view more Credit: Dinghua Yang Trapped in amber for ~100 million years, an exceptionally well-preserved, light-producing beetle sheds light on the diversification of bioluminescent beetles in the Cretaceous period and provides the missing fossil link between fireflies living relatives. With over 3,500 described species, light-producing beetles are the most diverse bioluminescent terrestrial animals. Fireflies, fire beetles, glow-worm beetles and their kin use light to ward off predators, attract mates, and some females even use it to attract unsuspecting males to eat. Historically, despite their diversity, the evolution of bioluminescence in beetles has been poorly understood. ....
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