The fossils are of a new species called Libanoculex intermedius.
The male mosquitoes had piercing-sucking mouthparts, suggesting they likely fed on blood.
The oldest known mosquito fossils have been discovered in Lebanese amber, dating back to the early-Cretaceous period.
This discovery challenges the belief that only female mosquitoes are bloodsuckers.
Researchers have unearthed the oldest known mosquito fossils, preserved in Lebanese amber, dating back to the early-Cretaceous period. This discovery pushes back the origin of mosquitoes by about 30 million years, challenging previous understanding of mosquito evolution.
The fossils, identified as a new species called Libanoculex intermedius, are male mosquitoes with piercing-sucking mouthparts, suggesting they likely fed on blood. This finding upends the long-held belief that only female mosquitoes are bloodsuckers. The discovery provides insights into the evolutionary journey of mosquitoes and the role of blood-feeding in their survival and adaptation.
Lebanese amber, where the fossils were found, is known for its important biological inclusions and its role in the co-evolution between pollinators and flowering plants. The mosquitoes belong to a new subfamily and have teeth in their mouthparts, indicating that they fed on blood. This discovery helps to narrow the 'ghost-lineage gap' for mosquitoes and provides insight into the ancient world and the development of blood-sucking insects.
The findings raise questions about the evolution of hematophagy among insects and provide insights into the ancient world and the development of blood-sucking insects. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these findings on our understanding of mosquito evolution.
The fossils, from the early-Cretaceous period, are the oldest known specimens, dating back 30 million years earlier than previously thought.
The discovery was made in Lebanese amber, which is known for its important biological inclusions and its role in the co-evolution between pollinators and flowering plants.
The fossils, identified as a new species called Libanoculex intermedius, challenge previous understanding of mosquito evolution and push back the origin of mosquitoes by about 30 million years.
The discovery provides insights into the evolutionary journey of mosquitoes and the role of blood-feeding in their survival and adaptation.