Rhythms of Insect Evolution

Evidence from the Jurassic and Cretaceous in Northern China

Dong Ren, Chungkun Shih, Taiping Gao, Yongjie Wang, Yunzhi Yao, Dong Ren, Chungkun Shih, Taiping Gao, Yongjie Wang, Yunzhi Yao

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781119427988
• eBook ISBN: 9781119428008
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Geology & Earth Sciences

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.

1
Jurassic‐Cretaceous Non‐Marine Stratigraphy and Entomofaunas in Northern China

Dong Ren

Capital Normal University, Haidian District, Beijing, China

1.1 Introduction

Northern China is an administrative and geographical region referring to the area located north of the Yellow River. Since the Late Triassic, the continental area of northern China was formed, and during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, almost all of northern China had become part of the Asian continent except for the southern Tibet, west of the Tarim basin of northwest China and Heilongjiang of northeast China. Thus, the Jurassic to Cretaceous strata of northern China are dominated by terrestrial sediments, volcanic rocks and volcanic sedimentary formations and coal‐bearing beds. A great deal of fossils have been found and documented in numerous localities and horizons. The Jurassic and Cretaceous insects have been reported from several localities in Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Beijing, Liaoning, Jilin and Shandong. Among them, the studies of the Jurassic and Cretaceous insect fossils from the Yumen‐Jiuquan Basin, Gansu; Yanliao Area (Beijing‐northern Hebei‐western Liaoning‐southeastern Inner Mongolia) and Laiyang Basin of Shandong have been more extensive, in‐depth and detailed than the sporadic reports from other localities.

Using the non‐marine insect‐bearing stratigraphic occurrences, together with radiometric ages and accompanying fossils, the Jurassic and Cretaceous non‐marine strata of northern China can be divided and correlated as shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Jurassic‐Cretaceous non‐marine lithostratigraphic division and correlation at selected insect‐bearing localities in the northern China. Geological time scale is based on The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart (version 2013) [1].

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

Non‐marine Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits are widely distributed in several basins in northern China, including variegated beds, red beds, coal‐bearing horizons, evaporates and volcanics. These deposits, often of great thickness, contain a rich fossil biota and significant oil, coal and non‐metallic mineral resources.

A relatively complete non‐marine Jurassic and Cretaceous stratigraphic sequence and a stratigraphic correlation have been established in northern China (Table 1.1). There are two main representative stratigraphic sequences containing insect fossils; one occurs in the Yumen‐Jiuquan Basin, Gansu, and the other in the Yanliao Area of Beijing‐northern Hebei‐western Liaoning‐eastern Inner Mongolia. These deposits contain a diverse and abundant continental biota, including insects, conchostracans, ostracods, bivalves, gastropods, fish, dinosaurs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. During the past decades, a number of studies have been published on the non‐marine Jurassic and Cretaceous strata of this region [2–4]. Recent radiometric dating results have complemented biostratigraphic studies [5,6]. During the last 10 years, we have undertaken a reassessment of the Jurassic and Cretaceous biostratigraphy of northern China, and have improved the assemblage sequence and zonation for insects and many accompanying fossil groups (Tables 1.2 and 1.3).

In northern China, Jurassic and Cretaceous non‐marine insect fossil‐bearing rocks can be recognized as two different depositional types: (i) large and stable inland depositional basins without volcanic material which is distributed in northwest China, represented by the Yumen‐Jiuquan Basin and (ii) intermountain basins with abundant volcanic intercalations of lavas and tuffs separated and controlled by faults which are distributed in Northeastern China represented by the Beijing‐northern Hebei‐western Liaoning‐southeastern Inner Mongolia basins (Yanliao Area).

1.2.1 Yumen‐Jiuquan Basin in Gansu Province

During the mid‐Mesozoic, the Yumen‐Jiuquan Basin was a representative of large and stable inland depositional basins without volcaniclastic deposits in northwestern China. The Jurassic and Cretaceous non‐marine rocks in the Yumen‐Jiuquan basin comprise, in ascending order: the Dashankou, Zhongjiangou, Xinhe, Boluo, Chijingqiao, Chijingpu, Xiagou and Zhonggou Formations (Table 1.1).

The Dashankou Formation (maximum thickness, 510 m) consists of a basal gray‐green conglomerate and sandstones intercalated with purple‐red siltstones and mudstones. It unconformably overlies the Upper Triassic Nanyinger Formation.

The Zhongjiangou Formation (maximum thickness, 174 m) rests conformably on the Dashankou Formation and mainly comprises basal gray conglomerate, middle gray‐green sandstones, mudstones and intercalated coals.

The Xinhe Formation (maximum thickness, 600 m) conformably overlies the Zhongjiangou Formation and is mainly composed of yellowish‐green and dark gray sandstones intercalated siltstones and mudstones.

The Boluo Formation (maximum thickness, 700 m) conformably overlies the Xinhe Formation and includes purplish‐red siltstones, sandstones and conglomerate.

The Chijinqiao Formation (maximum thickness, 200 m) unconformably overlies the Upper Jurassic Boluo Formation or other older...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• List of Contributors
• Acknowledgements
• 1 Jurassic‐Cretaceous Non‐Marine Stratigraphy and Entomofaunas in Northern China
• 2 Coexisting Animals and Plants in the Ecosystems
• 3 Insects – In the Spotlight
• 4 A History of Paleoentomology in China
• 5 Ephemeroptera – Mayflies
• 6 Odonata – Dragonflies and Damselflies
• 7 Blattaria – Cockroaches
• 8 Termitoidae – Termites
• 9 Orthoptera – Grasshoppers and Katydids
• 10 Notoptera – Rock Crawlers and Ice Crawlers
• 11 Dermaptera – Earwigs
• 12 Chresmodidae – Water‐Walking Insects
• 13 Phasmatodea – Stick Insects and Leaf Insects
• 14 Plecoptera – Stoneflies
• 15 Psocoptera – Barklice and Booklice
• 16 Homoptera – Cicadas and Hoppers
• 17 Heteroptera – True Bugs
• 18 Megaloptera – Dobsonflies, Fishflies, and Alderflies
• 19 Raphidioptera – Snakeflies
• 20 Neuroptera – Lacewings
• 21 Coleoptera – Beetles
• 22 Hymenoptera – Sawflies and Wasps
• 23 Diptera – True Flies with Two Wings
• 24 Mecoptera – Scorpionflies and Hangingflies
• 25 Siphonaptera – Fleas
• 26 Trichoptera – Caddisflies
• 27 Lepidoptera – Butterflies and Moths
• 28 Insect Feeding
• 29 Camouflage, Mimicry or Eyespot Warning
• 30 Gene Propagation – Courtship, Mating, and Next Generation
• Index
• End User License Agreement