Abstract
Abstract. The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) played a crucial role in shaping the biodiversity in Asia during the Cenozoic. However, fossil records attributed to insects are still scarce from the QTP, which limits our understanding on the evolution of biodiversity in this large region. Fulgoridae (lanternfly) is a group of large planthopper in body size, which is found primarily in tropical regions. The majority of the Fulgoridae bear brilliant colors and elongated heads. The fossil records of Fulgoridae span from the Eocene to Miocene in the Northern Hemisphere, and only a few fossil species from Neogene deposits have been reported in Asia so far. Here, we report a new fossil record of Fulgoridae from the middle Eocene Lunpola Basin, central QTP. The specimen is in lateral compression, with complete abdomen, thorax, and part of the wings preserved, while most of the head is missing. It belongs to the “lower Fulgoroidea” judging by several strong lateral spines on the hind tibia and a row of teeth at the apex of the second metatarsomere. This fossil specimen is assigned to Fulgoridae by comparison with nine families of the “lower Fulgoroidea”. The specimen represents the earliest Fulgoridae fossil record in Asia and was considered a new morphotaxon based on the peculiar legs and wings. Based on the modern distribution of fulgorid and other paleontological evidence, we suggest a warm climate with relatively low elevation during the middle Eocene in the central QTP. Therefore, this new fossil record not only provides important information on insect diversity in the middle Eocene, but also gives new evidence on the paleoenvironment in the core area of the QTP from the perspective of an insect.
Highlights
The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is the highest and one of the largest plateaus on Earth (Yao et al, 2017)
Cenozoic insect fossils have so far been discovered from the QTP, mainly in northeastern Qinghai Province and northern Tibetan regions
The Niubao Formation is about 3000 m thick and mainly consists of three parts: the lower part is composed of brownish red conglomerates, sandstones, and siltstones; the middle part, including our fossil site, is composed of reddish to brownish mudstones, intercalated with thin-bedded fine sandstones, shales, and distinct belted white marlite in basin margins, interpreted mainly as a shallow lake environment; the upper part consists of brownish greyish conglomerates, sandstones, and brownish red mudstones, intercalated with reddish Luvic Paleosols (Fang et al, 2020)
Summary
The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is the highest and one of the largest plateaus on Earth (Yao et al, 2017). Fulgoroidea differs from other Auchenorrhyncha by combining several characters, including frons with distinct longitudinal carinae, tegulae present at the base of the forewings, and forewing anal veins confluent in the basal of claval margin (Dietrich, 2009) This superfamily is a typical group with a feeding behavior of piercing and sucking plant tissue (Denno and Perfect, 1994). We discuss its systematic assignment, as well as the paleoenvironment of central QTP during the middle Eocene
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