British paleontologists made a sensational discovery: when they studied a fossil found in 1984. They identified a new species of ancient beetles.
The insect lived on Earth approximately 180 million years ago, at the beginning of the Jurassic period.
The insect fossil was found in Gloucestershire and had been in a museum for more than 30 years. Research on this species will help to better understand the evolution of beetles and their role in past ecosystems. The new species, named Alderblattina simmsi, is characterized by its small size and unique wing pattern. Scientists note that this is only the second known species of beetle from the same period with similar wing coloration. Studying the fossil allowed scientists to conclude that beetles played an important role in ecosystems millions of years ago. They were an important link in the food chain and participated in the nutrient cycle.
The discovery of a new species of beetle is another step towards understanding the evolution of insects and their adaptation to changing environmental conditions.
