Rhythms of Insect Evolution

Documents morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny, evolutionary changes, and interactions of 23 orders of insects from the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous faunas in Northern China

This book showcases 23 different orders of insect fossils from the Mid Mesozoic period (165 to 125 Ma) that were discovered in Northeastern China. It covers not only their taxonomy and morphology, but also their potential implications on natural sciences, such as phylogeny, function, interaction, evolution, and ecology. It covers fossil sites; paleogeology; co-existing animals and plants in well-balanced eco-systems; insects in the spotlight; morphological evolution and functional development; and interactions of insects with co-existing plants, vertebrates, and other insects. The book also includes many elegant and beautiful photographs, line drawings, and 3-D reconstructions of fossilized and extant insects.

Rhythms of Insect Evolution: Evidence from the Jurassic and Cretaceous in Northern China features chapter coverage of such insects as the: Ephemeroptera; Odonata; Blattaria; Isoptera; Orthoptera; Notoptera; Dermaptera; Chresmodidae; Phasmatodea; Plecoptera; Psocoptera; Homoptera; Heteroptera; Megaloptera; Raphidioptera; Neuroptera; Coleoptera; Hymenoptera Diptera; Mecoptera; Siphonaptera; Trichoptera and Lepidoptera.

• Combines academic natural science, popular science, and artistic presentation to illustrate rhythms of evolution for fossil insects from the Mid Mesozoic of Northern China

• Documents morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolutionary changes of 23 orders of insects from the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous faunas in Northern China

• Presents interactions of insects with plants, vertebrates, and other insects based on well-preserved fossil evidence

• Uses photos of extant insects and plants, fossil and amber specimens, line drawings, and 3-D computer-generated reconstruction artworks to give readers clear and enjoyable impressions of the scientific findings

• Introduces insect-related stories from western and Chinese culture in text or sidebars to give global readers broader exposures

Rhythms of Insect Evolution: Evidence from the Jurassic and Cretaceous in Northern China will appeal to entomologists, evolutionists, paleontologists, paleoecologists, and natural scientists.

Autorentext

DONG REN, CHUNGKUN SHIH, TAIPING GAO, YONGJIE WANG and YUNZHI YAO are all professors in the College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China. Dr. Shih is also a volunteer Research Associate in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA.

Klappentext
DISCOVER THE SECRETS AND SILENT STORIES REVEALED BY EXTRAORDINARY INSECT FOSSILS FROM THE MID-MESOZOIC FAUNAS IN NORTHERN CHINA Rhythms of Insect Evolution: Evidence from the Jurassic and Cretaceous in Northern China showcases 23 different orders of insect fossils from the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (165 to 125 Ma) that were collected in Northern China. The book exhibits and reports these fascinating insect fossils in brilliant detail, telling their stories with a combination of expert commentary and specially produced photographs, line drawings, and 3-D reconstructions. It covers not only their taxonomy and morphology, but also their potential implications on natural sciences, such as phylogeny, function, interaction, evolution, and ecology. It highlights fossil sites; stratigraphy; co-existing animals and plants in well-balanced eco-systems; insects in the spotlight; morphological evolution and functional development; and interactions of insects with co-existing plants, vertebrates, and other insects. The content of the book includes:

• A combination of academic natural science, popular science, and artistic presentation to illustrate rhythms of evolution for these fossil insects
• Documents of morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolutionary changes of 23 orders of insects from the Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous faunas in Northern China
• Interactions of insects with plants, vertebrates, and other insects based on well-preserved fossil evidence
• Photos of extant insects and plants, fossil and amber specimens, line drawings, and 3-D reconstruction artworks to give readers clear and enjoyable impressions of the scientific findings
• Insect-related stories from Western and Chinese culture in text or sidebars to give global readers broader exposures Entomologists, evolutionists, paleontologists, paleoecologists, and anyone with an interest in the natural sciences will find Rhythms of Insect Evolution an illuminating and colourful journey through the evolutionary changes of these ancient creatures.

Inhalt
Preface xi

List of Contributors xiii

Acknowledgements xvii

1 Jurassic-Cretaceous Non-Marine Stratigraphy and Entomofaunas in Northern China **1
Dong Ren

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Non-marine Jurassic and Cretaceous Insect Fossil-Bearing Lithostratigraphic Division and Correlation in Northern China 1

1.2.1 Yumen-Jiuquan Basin in Gansu Province 1

1.2.2 Intermountain Volcanic Basins in Beijing-Northern Hebei-Western Liaoning-Southeastern Inner Mongolia 3

1.3 Non-marine Jurassic and Cretaceous Entomofaunas in Northern China 4

1.3.1 Yanliao Entomofauna 5

1.3.2 Jehol Entomofauna in the Yanliao Area 8

1.3.3 Fuxin Entomofauna 10

1.4 Geological Ages of Non-marine Jurassic and Cretaceous Strata and Entomofaunas in Northern China 10

References 12

2 Coexisting Animals and Plants in the Ecosystems **17
Chungkun Shih, Taiping Gao, and Dong Ren

2.1 Introduction 17

2.2 Representative Fossils of Coexisting Animals 17

2.3 Representative Fossils of Coexisting Plants 24

References 28

3 Insects In the Spotlight **31
Taiping Gao, Chungkun Shih, and Dong Ren

3.1 Introduction to Insects 31

3.2 How to Identify an Insect 31

3.3 Origin and Evolution of Insects 35

References 38

4 A History of Paleoentomology in China **41
Dong Ren, Chungkun Shih, and Taiping Gao

4.1 Introduction 41

4.2 Early Foundational Studies (19231935) 41

4.3 Early Taxonomic Studies (19651985) 42

4.4 Major Taxonomic Studies (1985Present) 43

4.5 Phylogenetic and Paleobiological Studies (1991Present) 44

4.6 International Cooperative Studies (2000Present) 45

References 48

5 Ephemeroptera Mayflies **51
MeiWang, Qingqing Lin, Chungkun Shih, and Dong Ren

5.1 Introduction to Ephemeroptera 51

5.2 Progress in the Studies of Fossil Ephemeroptera 53

5.3 Representative Fossils of Ephemeroptera from Northern China 53

References 59

6 Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies **63
Qiang Yang, Dong Ren, Hong Pang, and Chungkun Shih

6.1 Introduction to Odonata 63

6.2 Progress in the Studies of Fossil Odonata 66

6.3 Representative Fossils of Odonata from Northern China 66

References 86

7 Blattaria Cockroaches **91
Junhui Liang, Chungkun Shih, and Dong Ren

7.1 Introduction to Blattaria 91

7.2 Progress in the Studies of Fossil Blattodea 92

7.3 Representative Fossils of Blattaria from Northern China 93

References 109

8 Termitoidae Termites **113
Zhipeng Zhao, Dong Ren, and Chungkun Shih

8.1 Introduction to Termitoidae 113

8.2 Progress in the Studies of Fossil Termites 115

8.3 Representative Fossils of Termites from Northern China 116

References 117

9 Orthoptera Grasshoppers and Katydids **121
Jun-Jie Gu, Chungkun Shih, and Dong Ren

9.1 Introduction to Orthoptera 121

9.2 Progress in the Studies of Fossil Orthoptera 122

9.3 Representative Fossils of Orthoptera from Northern China 124

References 134

10 Notoptera Rock Crawlers and Ice Crawlers **137
Yingying Cui, Chungkun Shih, and Dong Ren

10.1 Introduction to Notoptera (Mantophasmat…