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Dryad

Data from: Cretaceous lophocoronids with short proboscis and retractable female genitalia provide the earliest evidence for their feeding and oviposition habits

Cite this dataset

Zhang, Weiting; Shih, Chungkun; Engel, Michael; Ren, Dong (2022). Data from: Cretaceous lophocoronids with short proboscis and retractable female genitalia provide the earliest evidence for their feeding and oviposition habits [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3j9kd51m1

Abstract

We describe two new species of Lophocoronidae: Acanthocorona hedida Zhang, Shih and Engel sp. n. and Acanthocorona venulosa Zhang, Shih and Engel sp. n., and an undetermined specimen from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Phylogenetic analysis of basal lepidopteran lineages, including three extinct families, was undertaken. The analysis supported monophyly of Glossata although internal relationships remain controversial. Acanthocorona and Lophocorona form a monophyletic group. It is likely that short and simply structured proboscides of Acanthocorona were used to sip water droplets, pollination drops from gymnosperms, nectar from early flowers, or sap from injured leaves. Both retracted and extended ovipositors are preserved in the material reported here, revealing their morphology and indicating that these Cretaceous lophocoronids inserted eggs into the tissues of their host plants.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: D2020403002

Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department, Award: BJ2021011

Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS, Award: 183131

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 31730087, 32020103006