Breaking News: Fossil Discovery Reveals Previously Unknown Firefly Species!

A stunning fossil trapped in 99 million-year-old Burmese amber has confirmed the existence of a previously unknown firefly species. Dubbed Flammarionella hehaikuni, this ancient insect is only the second firefly species from the Mesozoic era to be identified.

According to researchers, this discovery sheds light on the early evolution of fireflies and their bioluminescence trait. The fossil shows that fireflies have remained consistent in terms of their abdominal light organs since the mid-Cretaceous period.

Dr. Chenyang Cai, lead author of the study, highlighted the significance of this find: "The fossil helps bridge gaps in understanding the evolutionary history of lampyroid beetles and shows that key traits, like abdominal light organs, have remained consistent since the mid-Cretaceous."

The discovery has sparked excitement among scientists, who hope to uncover more firefly fossils from the Mesozoic era to better understand their origins.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/24/science/firefly-fossil-mesozoic-bioluminescence-evolution/index.html