Recent Discovery Hints New Pollination Method

The only known specimen of a beetle, named Darwinylus marcosi, which died in a sticky gob around 105 million years ago, was discovered. It is being said that the beetle mi9ght have thrashed its body before drowning. This thrashing threw more than 100 pollens away from the body and into the resin. But five grains remained stuck on its body. The grains preserved with the beetle as hard amber were studied and examined. It was found that the beetle had been chewing those grains just before it died with its jaw-like mouth.

Scientists say that this is the first strong evidence of a fourth major insect pollination method. It includes a beetle with jaw-like mouth parts and chewing style of feeding.

This is a new addition to the series of recently discovered pollinating insects, which thrived during the mid-Mesozoic era. This discovery reveals to us, the four pollination modes that were present before flowering plants dominated between 125 to 90 million years ago. These pollinator modes have survived to the present day even though the related plant or insect may have gone.

This discovery has brought forward the existence of diverse pollination relationship between insects and non-flowering group of plants present millions of years ago.

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170302133448.htm

Image: https://gapp.org/what-is-pollination/