Asiodiplatys

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Asiodiplatys
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Dermaptera
Family:† Protodiplatyidae
Genus:† Asiodiplatys
Vishnyakova, 1980
Species:
†A. speciousus
Binomial name
†Asiodiplatys speciousus
Vishnyakova, 1980

Asiodiplatys is a monotypic genus containing the single species Asiodiplatys speciousus, an extinct species of earwig in the family Protodiplatyidae. [1] [2] It had long and thin cerci that were very different from modern species of Dermaptera, but tegmina and hind wings that folded up into a "wing package" that are like modern earwigs. [3] Like Archidermapteron martynovi, the only clear fossil of the species was found in Russia. [4]

Contents

Discovery

Like other extinct species of earwig, little is known about how Asiodiplatys speciousus was discovered due to the ambiguity of the reports about it, and the fact that only one fossil of it was ever found. [3] The reason for this is that the environment that most earwigs live in often prevents preservation, because dead organisms in soil and other crevices quickly rot and dissolve away. [3] It is known, however, that the sole fossil of it was found some time in the early 1900s by a team of Russian entomologists. [3]

Characteristics

Unlike its relative, Archidermapteron martynovi, Asiodiplatys speciousus had cerci, or rear appendages similar to antennae, that were less than the length of their abdomen. [4] By contrast, Archidermapteron martynovi had cerci that were not only longer than their abdomen, but longer than their abdomen and thorax combined. [5] The size of Asiodiplatys speciousus's cerci is much more similar to the cerci of modern-day earwigs, such as most male Common earwigs, or Forficula auricularia . [6]

However, the cerci of Asiodiplatys speciousus and Forficula auricularia differ greatly on one major front. Asiodiplatys speciousus had cerci that were more bead-like, or filiform, than the thicker cerci, specifically known as forceps, of most other earwigs. [4] From the fossil, it can be noted that Asiodiplatys speciousus's cerci were thin, almost identical to their antennae, [4] while Forficula auricularia's cerci are the opposite. [6] One of the key characteristics of the Forficulina suborder is the existence of large, thick, basally broadened and crenulate-toothed forceps, which is notably absent on Asiodiplatys speciousus. The only species of earwigs with these uncharacteristically-thinner cerci are earwigs in the suborders Arixeniina and Hemimerina, which are rare and contain few individuals. [7]

In order to open their wings, extant species of Forficulina use their cerci because their wings fold into a "package" due to internal elasticity. [8] While Asiodiplatys speciousus had such a wing package, like other earwigs in the Archidermaptera suborder, [4] they also had long segmented cerci, as mentioned above. This means that the unsegmented cerci of extant species of Forficulina is probably not an adaptation for wing folding. Instead, it is likely that the cerci of Asiodiplatys speciousus served a function similar to that of an insect's antennae: a sense of touch. [3]

Phylogenesis

This chart shows Willmann's phylogenetic hypothesis for earwigs. Red are extinct genera in Archidermaptera, among them is Asiodiplatys. Blue are the three living suborders of earwigs, except for green, which are the extinct genera in Forficulina. DermapteraGraph1.png
This chart shows Willmann's phylogenetic hypothesis for earwigs. Red are extinct genera in Archidermaptera, among them is Asiodiplatys. Blue are the three living suborders of earwigs, except for green, which are the extinct genera in Forficulina.

According to the research of Dr. Fabian Hass, an entomologist who specializes in earwig biology, [9] [10] the relative age of this species compared to other genera in the suborder Archidermaptera can be approximated based upon the research of Dr. R. Willmann. [3] According to Willmann, the genus Asiodiplatys, and therefore also the species Asiodiplatys speciousus, existed longer ago than the genera Dermapteron and Turanovia, but around the same time period as Archidermapteron, Microdiplatys, and Protodiplatys. [11] He bases this assumption on the shape of the fossils' cerci: Archidermateron, Asiodiplatys, Microdiplatys, and Protodiplatys all had cerci that were long and filiform, while Dermapteron had cerci that were short and more forcep-like. [12] Therefore, Turanovia would have been in between both groups.

However, this does not necessarily mean that Willmann's hypothesis is correct. [3] According to Dr. V. N. Vishnyakova, in an article written by her in the Paleontological Journal, Willmann could be correct on some fronts, but wrong on others. [13] Although Vishnyakova did not address Willmann specifically (she wrote about it ten years earlier), her paper disagrees with Willmann's on the basis of the ordering of Semenviola, Semenoviolides, and Turanoderma, which are extinct genera in Forficulina. Mainstream science is still unsure of whose chart is more accurate: it all depends on the definitions of certain taxon, which can change from person to person. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earwig</span> Order of insects

Earwigs make up the insect order Dermaptera. With about 2,000 species in 12 families, they are one of the smaller insect orders. Earwigs have characteristic cerci, a pair of forcep-like pincers on their abdomen, and membranous wings folded underneath short, rarely used forewings, hence the scientific order name, "skin wings". Some groups are tiny parasites on mammals and lack the typical pincers. Earwigs are found on all continents except Antarctica.

<i>Forficula auricularia</i> Species of earwig

Forficula auricularia, the common earwig or European earwig, is an omnivorous insect in the family Forficulidae. The European earwig survives in a variety of environments and is a common household insect in North America. The name earwig comes from the appearance of the hindwings, which are unique and distinctive among insects, and resemble a human ear when unfolded; the species name of the common earwig, auricularia, is a specific reference to this feature. They are considered a household pest because of their tendency to invade crevices in homes and consume pantry foods, and may act either as a pest or as a beneficial species depending on the circumstances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cercus</span> Paired appendages on the rear-most segments of many arthropods

Cerci are paired appendages on the rear-most segments of many arthropods, including insects and symphylans. Many forms of cerci serve as sensory organs, but some serve as pinching weapons or as organs of copulation. In many insects, they simply may be functionless vestigial structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forficulidae</span> Family of earwigs

Forficulidae is a family of earwigs in the order Dermaptera. There are more than 70 genera and 490 described species in Forficulidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archidermaptera</span> Extinct suborder of earwigs

Archidermaptera is an extinct suborder of earwigs in the order Dermaptera. It is one of two extinct suborders of earwigs, and contains two families known only from Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous fossils. The suborder is classified on the basis of general similarities. The Archidermaptera share with modern earwigs tegmenized forewings, though they lack the distinctive forceps-like cerci of modern earwigs, have external ovipositors, and possess ocelli. The grouping has been suggested to be paraphyletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arixeniidae</span> Family of earwigs

Arixeniidae is a family of earwigs in the suborder Neodermaptera. Arixeniidae was formerly considered a suborder, Arixeniina, but was reduced in rank to family and included in the new suborder Neodermaptera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemimeridae</span> Family of earwig insects

Hemimeridae is a family of earwigs in the suborder Neodermaptera. Hemimeridae was formerly considered a suborder, Hemimerina, but was reduced in rank to family and included in the new suborder Neodermaptera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protodiplatyidae</span> Extinct family of earwigs

Protodiplatyidae is an extinct family of earwigs. It is one of three families in the suborder Archidermaptera, alongside Dermapteridae and Turanovia. Species are known from Jurassic and Early Cretaceous fossils and have unsegmented cerci and tarsi with four to five segments.

Microdiplatys is an extinct genus of earwigs, in the family Protodiplatyidae. It is one of only six genera in the family, its family being the only one in the suborder.

Archidermapteron martynovi is an extinct species of earwig, in the genus Archidermapteron, family Protodiplatyidae, the suborder Archidermaptera, the order Dermaptera, and is the only species in the genus Archidermapteron, which simply means "ancient member of the Dermaptera". It had long, segmented cerci unlike modern species of Dermaptera, but tegmina and hind wings that folded up into a "wing package" that are like modern earwigs. The only clear fossil of the species was found in Russia.

Microdiplatys campodeiformis is an extinct species of earwig in the family Protodiplatyidae. It is one of only two species in the genus Microdiplatys, the other being Microdiplatys oculatus.

Microdiplatys oculatus is an extinct species of earwig in the family Protodiplatyidae. It is one of only two species in the genus Microdiplatys, the other being Microdiplatys campodeiformis.

Turanovia incompleta is an extinct species of archidermapteran earwig. It is the only species in the genus Turanovia and family Turanoviidae. It is found in the Middle-Late Jurassic (Callovian-Oxfordian) Karabastau Formation of Kazakhstan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anisolabididae</span> Family of earwigs

Anisolabididae is a family of earwigs, in the suborder Forficulina and the order Dermaptera. It is one of nine families in the suborder Forficulina, and contains thirty-eight genera spread across thirteen subfamilies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labiduridae</span> Family of earwigs

Labiduridae, whose members are known commonly as striped earwigs, is a relatively large family of earwigs in the suborder Forficulina.

Anisolabella braueri is a species of earwig in the genus Anisolabella, the family Anisolabididae, the suborder Forficulina, and the order Dermaptera. Primarily found in the Afrotropical realm, this species was first classified by Zacher in 1911.

<i>Labia minor</i> Species of earwig

Labia minor, the lesser earwig or small earwig, is a species of earwig. It is widespread globally in temperate climates, preferring warm locations such as compost heaps in parts of its range. It is 4–7 mm long, including the pincer, and chocolate brown in color.

<i>Astreptolabis</i> Extinct genus of earwigs

Astreptolabis is an extinct genus of earwig in the Dermaptera family Pygidicranidae known from a group of Cretaceous fossils found in Myanmar. The genus contains two described species, Astreptolabis ethirosomatia and Astreptolabis laevis and is the sole member of the subfamily Astreptolabidinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neodermaptera</span> Suborder of earwigs

Neodermaptera, sometimes called Catadermaptera, is a suborder of earwigs in the order Dermaptera. There are more than 2,000 described species in Neodermaptera.

References

  1. ↑ "Taxa display – Asiodiplatys speciousus". Dermaptera Species File. speciesfile.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  2. ↑ "Taxa display – Asiodiplatys". Dermaptera Species File. speciesfile.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hass, Fabian (January 1996). "Archidermaptera". Tree of Life. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and The University of Arizona Library. Archived from the original on 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Dr. A.P. Rasnitsyn and Dr. R.L. Kaesler (1992). "Tree of Life Web Project – Details for Media ID# 4938". Tree of Life. Russian Academy of Science. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  5. ↑ Dr. A.P. Rasnitsyn and Dr. R.L. Kaesler (1992). "Tree of Life Web Project – Details for Media ID# 852". Tree of Life. Russian Academy of Science. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  6. ↑ Hass, Fabian (July 1996). "Dermaptera". Tree of Life. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and The University of Arizona Library. Archived from the original on 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  7. ↑ Kleinow, W. (1966) Untersuchungen zum Flügelmechanismus der Dermapteren. Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere, 56, 363-416.
  8. ↑ Hass, Fabian (2007). "Welcome to the Earwig Research Centre". Earwig Research Centre. Heilbronn. Archived from the original on 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  9. ↑ Hass, Fabian (2007). "Earwig Research Centre :: People". Earwig Research Centre. Heilbronn. Archived from the original on 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  10. ↑ Willmann, R. (1990) Die Bedeutung paläontologischer Daten für die zoologische Systematik. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft, 83, 277-289.
  11. ↑ Dr. A.P. Rasnitsyn and Dr. R.L. Kaesler (1992). "Tree of Life Web Project – Details for Media ID# 3084". Tree of Life. Russian Academy of Science. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  12. ↑ Vishnyakova, V.N. (1980) Earwigs from the Upper Jurassic of the Karatau range. Paleontological Journal, 1, 78-95.
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