Ancient Cicada Fossil from Messel Pit Sheds Light on Insect Evolution

[frankerkanol]

A fossilized true cicada has been described for the first time from Germany’s Messel Pit, offering valuable insight into the evolutionary history of one of the most species-rich insect families. The newly identified species, Eoplatypleura messelensis, is not only one of the oldest known true cicadas in Eurasia but also marks the earliest global record of the Cicadinae subfamily. The discovery is detailed in a recent publication in Scientific Reports.

The fossil was unearthed from the 47-million-year-old oil shale deposits of the Messel Pit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Darmstadt. Measuring approximately 26.5 millimeters in body length with a wingspan of 68.2 millimeters, the adult female cicada is remarkably well-preserved.

Dr. Sonja Wedmann of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt highlights the rarity of cicada fossils despite the family's modern diversity. “True cicadas (Cicadidae) are among the most species-rich insect groups today, yet their fossil record is surprisingly sparse,” she noted. This find, she said, adds a critical piece to the puzzle of cicada evolution.

The fossil belongs to the Platypleurini, a group of cicadas known for their wide distribution and distinct features. Eoplatypleura messelensis is particularly notable for its large, patterned wings, which bear a striking resemblance to those of living cicadas in wooded and shrubby environments. These patterns likely served a camouflage function in the subtropical vegetation that once thrived in the Messel region.

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Dr. Hui Jiang, lead author of the study, conducted her research during a visit to the Senckenberg Research Station at Messel. She described the fossil’s distinctive features, including a compact head, understated compound eyes, and broad forewings with a distinctly curved leading edge. Although the specimen is female, Jiang suggests that males of the species likely produced loud mating calls, a characteristic trait of cicadas.

Prior to this discovery, only 44 cicada fossils from the Cenozoic era—beginning around 66 million years ago—had been documented. The new find stands out not only for its age and completeness but also for its scientific value as the first described “buzzing cicada” from the Messel Pit.

Wedmann emphasized the broader implications of the discovery: “This fossil expands our understanding of the Eocene fauna and fills a key gap in cicada evolutionary history. It could become a reference point for future genetic studies on cicada evolution and the spread of the Platypleurini lineage.”

She concluded by stressing the importance of such discoveries: “Each fossil from the Messel Pit offers new insights into the complexity of ancient ecosystems. Insects make up a significant portion of global biodiversity, and their fossils help us reconstruct the ecological interactions of the past.”