Trapped beetle may unlock pollination secrets
19, Aug 2018

Prelims level : Science & Tech
Mains level :
- Scientist have discovered & Beetle trapped in amber that date back to 99 million years which may help understand the relationship between ancient flowering plants and pollinators.
Study:
- A Group of unusual evergreen gymnosperms, known as cycads, may have been the first insects, pollinated plants.
- The Ancient boganiid beetle preserved in Burmese amber for an estimated 99 million years along with grains of cycad pollen.
- The Insect found in amber throw light on their relationship with cycads.
- Boganiid beetles have been ancient pollinators for cycads since the age of cycads & Dinosaurs.
- The Study indicates a probable ancient origin of beetle pollination of cycads at least in the early long before angiosperm dominance and the radiation of flowering plant pollinators such as bees.
- The analysis indicates the fossilized beetle belonged to a sister group of the Australian paracucujus.