Unveiling the Ancient Secrets of Fireflies: Fossils Reveal a Previously Undiscovered Species Flickering During the Time of Dinosaurs

1 month ago

Local species of dragonflies extinct due to urbanisation: Study

Researchers have recorded changes in the population dynamics of dragonflies in Pune based on historical and contemporary data. A study has found that eight species recorded in historical data are no longer present, indicating possible local extinctions due to unplanned urbanization, increased water pollution and shifting weather patterns. The study, led by Pankaj Koparde from the department of environmental studies …

Urban Study

2 months, 1 week ago

Two rare Neuroptera species found for the first time from Kerala

The Hindu

Researchers have found two rare Order Neuroptera species, Glenochrysa zeylanica and Indophanes barbara from Kerala. Indophanes barbara is an antlion belonging to Myrmeleontidae family and Glenochrysa zeylanica is a green lacewing of Chrysopidae family in Order Neuroptera. The antlion species Indophanes barbara is found in Kerala in Irinjalakuda, Manakkody in Thrissur district; Pudunagaram, Chittur, Kulikkiliyad in Palakkad district; Chaliyam, Devagiri …

Research Kerala Sri Lanka District Barbara Christ College Indophanes Barbara

2 months, 2 weeks ago

Scientists have identified an estimated 10% of all species on Earth. Here’s what they found in 2024

CNN

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. These wild wonders were among the hundreds of previously unknown species of animals, plants and fungi that scientists named and described for the first time in 2024, expanding our surprisingly limited knowledge of Earth’s diversity. “Scientists estimate that we’ve identified only one-tenth of all species on Earth,” said Dr. Shannon Bennett, chief …

South Africa Earth Species New Species Scientists Kew

5 months, 2 weeks ago

Moth species found in Wales travelled 4,500 miles from South American jungle

The Independent

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It is believed two clearwing moths accidentally hitched a ride when they were still larvae …

Wales South America Cadet Species Jungle Health Check Guyana

7 months, 3 weeks ago

The flickering glow of summer’s fireflies: too important to lose, too small to notice them gone

Associated Press

DELAWARE SEASHORE STATE PARK, Del. Sergio Henriques, Invertebrates Conservation Coordinator at the Global Center for Species Survival at the Indianapolis Zoo, walks on an elevated path through a wetland habitat to look for fireflies at the Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve in Ellettsville, Ind., Friday, June 28, 2024. “It’s kind of like we’ve taken fireflies for granted for many decades,” said …

Nature Climate Change Light Ohio 2024 Species Cincinnati

7 months, 3 weeks ago

The flickering glow of summer's fireflies: too important to lose, too small to notice them gone

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The firefly that Davis chased, the Bethany Beach firefly, …

Climate Change Climate Light Species Know Davis Lewis

1 year ago

An obsessed insect hunter: The creepy-crawly origins of daylight saving

BBC

An obsessed insect hunter: The creepy-crawly origins of daylight saving Internet Archive and George Vernon Hudson An early proponent of daylight saving pushed for the time-shift so he'd have more time to hunt insects. Not one to let his insect-studying instincts be curtailed, however, Hudson proposed a solution: shift the clocks back two hours during summer months – a concept …

New Zealand Work Saving George Zealand Lees Insects

1 year, 5 months ago

New dragonfly species discovered in Wayanad

The Hindu

A new dragonfly species has been discovered in the verdant landscapes of Wayanad. The team was collecting specimens from a population that bore a striking resemblance to Epithemis mariae, commonly known as the Ruby-tailed Hawklet, a dragonfly species that is native and exclusive to the Western Ghats. In stark contrast, the newly discovered dragonfly species was found amidst the foliage …

Wayanad Species Chandran Discovered Dragonfly

1 year, 6 months ago

Study sheds more light into firefly habitat, mega congregation in Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve

The Hindu

A study on the firefly species and their habitats in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, where mega congregation of the insects and their synchronised bioluminescence is observed during summer every year, has underscored the need to take proactive conservation measures to preserve their habitat and safeguard the ecosystem. Extensive field surveys were conducted during the firefly mating seasons from 2022-2023 in …

Light Study Firefly Reserve Habitat Mating Atr

1 year, 7 months ago

How a Firefly Course Is Saving Japan’s Favorite Glowing Insect

Wired

In Japan, fireflies have long been the harbingers of summer, taking to the skies in June and July in a flickering dance of courtship that lights up the night. Throughout Japan’s Meiji period, which stretched from 1868 to 1912, a commercial firefly industry gorged on the colonies emerging from Moriyama’s waterways. “Harvesting fireflies was big business,” says Tufts University biologist …

Japan Firefly Fireflies Moriyama Genji Genjis

1 year, 8 months ago

Twelve firefly hotspots identified in Bengaluru

The Hindu

Researchers from the Environment Management and Policy Research Institute, Bengaluru, have identified 12 firefly hotspots in the city. The hotspots have been identified as part of an ongoing study that aims to conserve fireflies and their habitats and assess the firefly population and diversity in Karnataka. “In certain situations, they help with pollination too,” said Dr. Chakravarthy who pointed out …

Bengaluru Karnataka Population Forest Study Firefly Fireflies

1 year, 9 months ago

Watch thousands of fireflies glowing in the forests of Maharashtra

The Hindu

“Sitting in the forest in the dead of night and watching thousands of fireflies glowing in unison feels like the stars have descended on earth. They seem to light up the forest from one end to the other in a magical pattern,” says Digvijay Rathore, a senior trek leader of Mischief Treks, Mumbai, who has been taking groups of people …

Mumbai Maharashtra Forest Season Digvijay Fireflies

1 year, 10 months ago

Rare fossils reveal the butterfly ‘tree of life’ over the past 100 million years

CNN

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. CNN — The world’s largest butterfly tree of life is helping researchers determine where the winged insects originated when they first appeared on Earth about 100 million years ago. “Europe doesn’t have many butterfly species compared to other parts of the world, and the ones it does have can often be found …

Europe Asia Plants Museum Butterfly Species Study

1 year, 11 months ago

Synchronous lighting by mega congregation of fireflies recorded in another forest range of Anamalai Tiger Reserve

The Hindu

The otherwise pitch-black nights in the Manambolly forests in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve along the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu are witnessing a mega light show of bioluminescence. A team, comprising ATR Field Director S. Ramasubramanian, Deputy Director Bhargava Teja, Assistant Conservator of Forests V. Selvam and members of the Wild and Dark Earth, an NGO engaged in the study …

Light Forest Firefly Wide Murali Atr Fireflies

2 years ago

A Bug's Life: The giant Jurassic-era insect rediscovered in Arkansas, US

Firstpost

It had been deflecting threats for quite a long time. It was plucked up at a Fayetteville big box store by Michael Skvarla, director of Penn State’s Insect Identification Lab, according to a Monday press release from the university. I got home, mounted it, and promptly forgot about it for almost a decade.” Also read: How these endangered Australian animals …

Walmart North America Insect Bug Skvarla Lacewing Eastern North America

2 years, 1 month ago

Unearthed, the 220 million-year-old ‘missing link’ in evolution

The Independent

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ben Kligman, a doctoral student at Virginia Tech …

Evolution Virginia Tech Fossil Worm Kligman Caecilian Caecilians

2 years, 2 months ago

Eighty-five new types of wasp among more than 351 species identified in 2022

The Independent

Eighty-five new types of wasps are among 351 new species discovered by scientists from the Natural History Museum in the past year. As most animals on Earth are invertebrates - animals without a backbone - the researchers said it was not surprising that the majority of new species identified this year fall into the wasp category. Dr Gavin Broad, the …

Species Wasps Wasp

2 years, 3 months ago

From fireflies to dung beetles, insects are vanishing globally

Live Mint

As a boy in the 1960s, David Wagner would run around his family’s Missouri farm with a glass jar clutched in his hand, scooping flickering fireflies out of the sky. “They’re the fabric tethering together every freshwater and terrestrial ecosystem across the planet.” Tree of life It’s easy to think insects are doing OK. After all, they’re nearly everywhere — …

Food Climate Change World Species Tree North America Insects

2 years, 9 months ago

World's oldest campfire? Ancient flint tools show humans may have tamed fire 1 MILLION years ago

Daily Mail

Scientists think they could have come across the location of the world's oldest campfire - and it's over a million years old. The bottom five samples do not have this peak suggesting they have not been exposed to high temperatures Map of the global distribution of Lower Paleolithic sites with evidence associating ancient humans and fire The sites of ancient …

Evidence Ancient Israel Million Sites Human Tools

2 years, 10 months ago

Watch | Lakhs of fireflies illuminate the Anamalai Tiger Reserve

The Hindu

Several lakhs of fireflies put on a light show at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Fireflies on perched on every plant and tree emitted light at the same time illuminating the entire forest. Officials say this was a rare event and could even be called a ‘world wonder.’ Like in science fiction movies and in fairy tales the …

Fireflies

2 years, 10 months ago

In a rare phenomenon, fireflies illuminate Anamalai Tiger Reserve forests

The Hindu

The pristine forests around Top Slip in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve resembled James Cameron’s fictional bioluminescent universe Pandora in the movie Avatar, for a few nights recently. Officials of ATR were awestruck as several lakhs of fireflies perched on every plant and tree and illuminated the forests, turning them into a magical world of yellowish green light. Mr. Ganesan said …

Light Murali Atr Phenomenon Fireflies

3 years, 5 months ago

Scientists discover new species fossilised in 16-million-year-old amber

The Independent

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, …

New Species Fossil Tardigrade

3 years, 7 months ago

The quest to catalogue Australia's insect biodiversity using AI technology

ABC

To be clear, this wasp has actually only ever been seen once. But they are declining around the globe at an alarming rate, so it's vital that scientists catalogue how many insects we have so they know how many, like the spider wasp, we've potentially lost. "The reason why we know there's 200 undescribed is because there was a worker …

National Species Ai Collection Scientists Abc Insects

3 years, 8 months ago

Fossils: World's oldest beetles found in 230-million-year-old primitive dinosaur faeces

Daily Mail

Scientists have discovered the world's oldest known beetles — preserved in the fossilised faeces of a dinosaur ancestor that ate them whole 230 million years ago. Scroll down for videos Scientists have discovered the world's oldest known beetles — preserved in the fossilised faeces of a primitive dinosaur that ate them whole 230 million years ago The team believe the …

Poland Sweden Likely Study Researchers Beetles Faeces

4 years ago

Fossilized fly that lived 47 MILLION years ago is found with a stomach full of pollen

Daily Mail

Scientists have discovered a 47-million-year-old fossilized fly with its stomach still full from its last meal. A 47-million-year old fossil belonging to a previously unknown species of fly was found at the Messel Pit in central Germany The fossil represented a new species of ancient, short-proboscid fly the researchers dubbed Hirmoneura messelense, according to Science Alert. 'The rich pollen content …

Plants Species Million Plant Fly Fossil Pollen

4 years, 5 months ago

After Nearly 125 Years, Rare Day Flying Moth 'Achelura Bifasciata’ Sighted in Uttarakhand

News 18

It was no less than a treat for eyes for Arun Gour, an enthusiastic lepidopterist who spotted a rare day flying moth named as ‘Achelura bifasciata’ in Devalsari of Tehri district in Uttarakhand. “Hundreds of these moths have been flying during the day time near Chiana Khad, in a small, localised area in Devalsari of no more than a hundred …

Uttarakhand Fly Flying Moth Moths Devalsari Day Time

4 years, 8 months ago

'Extraordinary' amber fossils reveal how ancient insects used colour for camouflage

The Independent

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A research team has discovered the true colours of fossilised insects, trapped in …

Wasps Indytech Insects Fossils Colour Amber Discovered

4 years, 9 months ago

A 425 million years old millipede fossil is the oldest known specimen of bugs on Earth

Firstpost

Studying the millipede revealed that “a rapid radiative evolution” helped these organisms to come out of aquatic ecosystems and start living in “complex forest grade communities” in just 40 million years. The discovery of a 425 million years old millipede fossil made it the oldest known specimen of bugs on the planet. Researchers found that the millipede fossil was 75 …

Old Fossil Brookfield Millipede

4 years, 11 months ago

Science news in brief: From mating flies frozen in time to butterflies in captivity

The Independent

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It’s possible one fly was trapped in the amber and the other was a little excited and …

Research University New Zealand Mexico Washington State Wild

4 years, 11 months ago

Prehistoric pair of fornicating flies that became frozen in amber 41 million years ago discovered

Daily Mail

A pair of fornicating flies that became frozen in amber 41 million years ago are among the oldest fossilised mating animals ever to be discovered. Scroll down for video A pair of fornicating flies that became frozen in amber 41 million years ago are among the oldest fossilised mating animals ever to be discovered. Other finds from the amber collection …

Australia New Zealand Million Professor Victoria Ago Tasmania

5 years, 1 month ago

Biodiversity crisis: Habitat loss, pesticides and light pollution pushing fireflies to extinction, scientists warn

The Independent

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “In addition to disrupting natural biorhythms – including our own – light pollution really messes up firefly mating rituals,” …

Threats Threat Light Pollution Species Lewis Firefly Habitat

5 years, 1 month ago

As Australia burns, the smallest species could be lost forever to the flames

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “As an ecologist,” she says, “it’s a very tragic …

Australia Image Spiders Sydney Mason Fires Velvet

5 years, 3 months ago

Parasitical toothed insects which sucked blood of dinosaurs discovered in 100-million-year-old amber

The Independent

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A previously unknown species of parasitic insect which dined on the …

Million Health Check Insects Dinosaurs Feathered Dinosaurs

5 years, 3 months ago

Insects trapped in amber show that lice munched on feathered dinosaurs

CNN

CNN — Feathered dinosaurs were annoyed by tiny pests that are still familiar to many schoolchildren – and their horrified parents – today: lice. Scientists discovered previously unknown tiny insects similar to modern lice trapped in amber, along with a partially damaged dinosaur feather. Ten lice-like insect nymphs were found, along with two dinosaur feathers, trapped in two pieces of …

Fed Dinosaurs Dinosaur Shih Lice Feathers Feathered Dinosaurs

5 years, 4 months ago

Beetle trapped in amber provides earliest evidence of insect pollination

India TV News

The first known instance of an insect pollinating a flower happened 99 million years ago, according to a study which pushes the earliest documented instance of the process back by at least 50 million years than previously thought. The study, published in the journal PNAS, is based on the discovery of fossilised remains of a tumbling flower beetle with pollen …

Flower Insect Beetle Pollen Insect Pollination Provides Earliest

5 years, 7 months ago

How fireflies glow — and what signals they’re sending

Salon

You might not really be sure you saw what you think you saw when the first one shows up. Bioluminescent beetles Fireflies produce light in special organs in their abdomens by combining a chemical called luciferin, enzymes called luciferases, oxygen and the fuel for cellular work, ATP. When a female sees one making her species’ signal — and doing it …

Light Right Species North North America Flash Firefly

5 years, 8 months ago

Researchers have found a 99-million-year old bird fossil showing it having an extra-long toe

Firstpost

The fossilized bird was found in a lump of amber and lived 99 million years ago in mangroves. For the first time, a bird with an extra-long toe has been found fossilised in amber. The researchers think that the bird used its long toe for food like the Aye-Aye lemur that uses its toes to remove larvae and insects from …

Toe Old Bird

5 years, 10 months ago

Gliding dinosaur with bat-like wings discovered in China

CNN

CNN — A new species of dinosaur with bat-like wings has been discovered in China, shedding light on the origin of flight and how dinosaurs evolved into birds. The 163 million-year-old fossil is only the second to show a dinosaur with bat-like wings although the feature is seen in prehistoric flying squirrels, bats and pterosaurs – flying reptiles. However, Wang …

China Flight Wang Wings Fossil Dinosaurs Dinosaur

6 years, 7 months ago

25 species spotted in Delhi’s first dragonfly-damselfly count

Hindustan Times

At least 25 species of dragonflies were spotted in Delhi and NCR on the first dragonfly and damselfly count held on Saturday, said organisers. A total of 11 teams comprising 30 volunteers fanned out in various wetlands, biodiversity parks and sanctuaries across Delhi and NCR to count the number of species of dragonflies and damselflies. The places covered were Asola …

Delhi Biodiversity Wetland Dragonfly Species Spotted

6 years, 9 months ago

TravelLab: In a forest on the trail of synchronous fireflies

Associated Press

KELLETTVILLE, Pa. — Picture a moonless June evening, shortly after midnight, deep in a northwestern Pennsylvania forest. This is what it’s like to walk smack into a pack of synchronous fireflies — “lightning bugs,” as many of us called them in childhood. They’re trying to find some missing piece of something.” ___ THE EXPERIENCE To walk on the edge of …

Pennsylvania Light Forest Lewis Firefly Males Butlers

7 years, 1 month ago

WHAT FOSSILS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN BURMESE AMBER?

Daily Mail

Often used in jewelry, Amber is fossilized tree resin—the oldest of which dates back more than 300 million years. The incredible find showed the head, neck, wing, tail and feet of a now extinct bird which lived at the time of the dinosaurs, 100 million years ago, in unprecedented detail. In December 2017, experts discovered incredible ancient fossils of a …

Myanmar Million Amber Burmese

7 years, 1 month ago

Ancient spiders found preserved in amber

Daily Mail

Spine-tingling spiders with scorpion-like tails have been found in amber dating back 100 million years. Experts say the creature lies one step closer to modern spiders on account of its possession of spinning organs Researchers say it's possible that descendants of the creatures might still be alive today in the rainforests of southeast Asia. Professor Selden said: 'There's been a …

Myanmar Modern Million Spiders Southeast Asia Ago Burma

7 years, 2 months ago

World’s oldest moths also roamed Jurassic Park, say Utrecht researchers

Dutch News

An international team of scientists led by researchers from Utrecht University have found the oldest fossil remains of moths and butterflies known to date. The fossil remains are more than 70 million years older than the oldest fossils of flowering plants and shed new light on the co-evolution between flowering plants and pollinating insects, researchers Timo van Eldijk and Bas …

Butterflies Moths Flowering Plants Van Eldijk

7 years, 2 months ago

World’s oldest moths also roamed Jurassic Park, say Utrecht researchers

Dutch News

An international team of scientists led by researchers from Utrecht University have found the oldest fossil remains of moths and butterflies known to date. The fossil remains are more than 70 million years older than the oldest fossils of flowering plants and shed new light on the co-evolution between flowering plants and pollinating insects, researchers Timo van Eldijk and Bas …

Butterflies Moths Flowering Plants Van Eldijk

7 years, 10 months ago

Beetle fossil over 200 million years old found in Winterswijk quarry

NL Times

A very rare fossil of a beetle that lived in the Netherlands 200 million years ago was found in a quarry in Winterswijk, according to a scientific publication in Paläontologische Zeitschrift written by paleontologists from Utrecht University, ANP reports. The researchers found the fossilized beetle in a brick layer that is a quarter of a billion years old. In that …

Beetle Triassic Winterswijk

8 years ago

Scientists find earliest intact mushroom fossils[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily

Fossilized mushrooms, said to be from the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago, were discovered in amber by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, as well as from New Zealand and the United States. The scientists noted a stalk and a complete intact cap containing distinct gills are visible in most of …

Million Amber Mushrooms Burmese Burmese Amber Complete Mushroom

8 years ago

Scientists find earliest intact mushroom fossils[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily

Fossilized mushrooms, said to be from the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago, were discovered in amber by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, as well as from New Zealand and the United States. The scientists noted a stalk and a complete intact cap containing distinct gills are visible in most of …

Million Amber Mushroom Mushrooms Burmese Burmese Amber

8 years ago

99-million-year-old mushrooms found perfectly preserved in Burmese amber

The Independent

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The researchers also found similarly pristine beetles that are 125 million years old, again encased …

China Million Health Check Amber Mushroom Mushrooms Rove Beetles

Unveiling the Ancient Secrets of Fireflies: Fossils Reveal a Previously Undiscovered Species Flickering During the Time of Dinosaurs

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Fossil firefly trapped in Myanmar amber reveals mysterious origins of glowing insects

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