Bugs In The News Rough Draft

ENT 202

Nick Panos

New Mites: Age Old Findings in Resin from the Triassic

There is no doubt that the sheer number of insects, bugs, and mites greatly exceed the number of other living animals in the world today; however, the ancestry of many insects and mites is still unknown. The article, 230million-year-old Mites Found Preserved in Amber, yields a surprising result that sets the precedent for future research and delves into historical beginnings of not only mites, but all arthropods in general. This article by Charles Choi (the link is located in the footer) was viewable across multiple news mediums on August 27th, including this article from MSNBC.com. Choi explains how nine scientists have now found three arthropods trapped in 230-million-year-old amber from the steep Northeastern Italy Dolomite Alps. These nine paleoentomologists used the cliffs, where lies the most abundant outcrops of Triassic amber worldwide, to view over 70,000 droplets of amber and analyze each 2 to 6 millimeter long droplet one by one (Choi, 2012). Inside three of the drops were the oldest amber-trapped arthropods ever discovered and the first arthropods to be found in amber from the Triassic period! First, was a Nematoceran fly (Diptera) and the other two arthropods found represent two new species of mites: Triasacarus fedelei and Ampezzoa triassica (Choi, 2012). Overall, it took two years to examine all of the amber droplets, shards and fragments (Arthopods, 2012). Thus, the final part of the article entails creating new methods for cultivating amber deposits and increasing total efficiency in various parts of North America, like Arizona. For the Nematoceran midge fly, whose head, antenna, body structure and four legs were all intact suggested that the fly was just 1.5 to 2 millimeters large (Choi, 2012). As an outside source on Nematocera stated, these flies are a diverse group of insects where most species are dwellers of wetlands and small water bodies (Salmela, 2012). Most midges, apart from the gall midges, (Cecidomyiidae) are aquatic during the larval stage so these pose a difference from the norm now. Flies are holometabolous, have two wings, are diverse, live in many global locations and some are disease vectors. Flies eat nectar, plant sap, blood, other insects, and decaying matter as a few of their many viable options. Most adult flies usually have short antennae but the Nematocera possess long segmented antennae that are feathery (Salmela, 2012). The article spent little time discussing the fly so there was little need to go into further detail. One of the mites discovered, Triasacarus fedelei, is just 210 microns long. The mites distinctly wormlike shape suggested that it protected itself from drying out by living in a tiny place (Arthopods, 2012). Its primitive form mouthparts were also less fused together than the modern gall counterparts. The other finding, the 124 micron long Ampezzoa triassica, had a compact spindle shape for mites living on exposed surface of plants. The mite possessed waxy filaments on its surface, which protected it against predators, parasites, rain and drying out (Arthopods, 2012). In general, mites are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. Mites are one Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48806420/#.UHJzmU3A-UN by Charles Choi from Science on NBC News.com (8/27/2012)

Bugs In The News Rough Draft

ENT 202

Nick Panos

of the most diverse and successful adaptors of all the invertebrate groups. They exploit an incredible array of habitats and go largely unnoticed because of their microscopic size. Many mites live freely in soil or water (Walter, 2012). There are also a large number of species that live as parasites on plants, animals, and feed on mold. It is estimated that 48,200 species of mites have been discovered with even more unfound (Walter, 2012). The mite hosts from the parasitic stages are also typically arthropods. Some mites are predatory and feed on the flies directly while others compete directly with the flies for consumption. Gall mites feed mostly on flowering plants, yet these new mites were found to eat conifers. 3,500 species of gall mites live on specific plant species and most mites subsist on angiosperms (Heming, 2012). A vast majority live on the outer surfaces of their host plant and still some follow the namesake and induce plant tissue to form swollen galls in which they live. These mites found are unexpectedly similar to the gall mites or creatures that feed on plants and cause abnormal growths known as galls to form around them (Arthpods). These two mites are like miniature spiders, although these specimens both evolved to lose two pairs of legs. The paleoentomologists described a few minor differences between them and today's known species. Head researcher David Grimaldi quoted, "they are dead ringers for modern gall mites" (Arthropods). Unlike the gall mites, which sometimes form bumpy growths on leaves, the Triassic mites consume more primitive conifers. These golden globules are about the size of a grain of rice (Walter, 2012). The pictures present at the bottom of the works cited explain everything in a visual sense. With spending two years and .0043% of samples yielding a result, the evidence is shown that the researches were thorough and the facts are straight. Mites persistence to the present day indicates that they are able to exist under the toughest conditions so they are more to be found worldwide (Frost, 1959). Limestone and shale can also hold arthropod fossils, but amber allows researchers to take a more intimate look. The detail preservation in the mites is mounds above other Triassic arthropods (Arthropods, 2012). Grimaldi stated that amber is an extremely valuable tool for paleontologists because it preserves specimens with microscopic size, to allow accurate estimates of evolutionary change over millions of years (Choi, 2012). Before amber hardens, it drips wildlife on its tree's bark, entombing them forever (Walter, 2012). Overall, the age of the gall was unexpected with the Triassic species already having many of their present-day features. Lastly, this research establishes conifer feeding as an ancestral trait. The article should also look into defining confusing terms such as the Triassic period that extends from about 250 to 200 Ma, amber, and resin or plan secretion. There was an absence in describing some words such as phorsey in which one animal hitches a ride on another like mites do (Heming, 2003). You could also define paleoclimates or the Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48806420/#.UHJzmU3A-UN by Charles Choi from Science on NBC News.com (8/27/2012)

Bugs In The News Rough Draft

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Nick Panos

study of climate change over Earths history. No errors in terms existed except using terms like buglike creatures was quite unprofessional. After viewing the authors resume online, he is easily qualified to discuss the topic with a plethora of inset based writing work. However, he is not available to look at for bias since most of this article is quoted lines from the scientists themselves. I feel that the head scientist, David Grimaldi, does a good job of trying to remain unbiased but bias is never perfect. With the article itself, it leads to creationism versus evolution discussion since one spectrum believes that the Earth is 6,000 years old and created by a Deity. For the time horizon, the research here is disproving evolution to a point. Even 230 million years ago, all of the distinguishing features of this family were there such as unique feather claws (Arthropods, 2012). While surprised by the results, David shows a pure love for the insect/research to have his team analyze over 70,000 drops. He also has a general dislike of the tedious process used, no matter of the beautiful location. Throughout reading the article, I had to view other sources such as the physical report to find contextual information that should have been included. There should be more overall encompassing background detail or a link provided to the published report itself. I would also include information about what a gall mite is for people who are unclear of them and clearly define the few terns listed in the previous paragraphs. Researcher direct quotes were also very common so I would consider more author analysis. Nonetheless, I liked how the article is broken up into certain bold chunks. Lastly, I would be more definitive on the wording. Words like probably, may, and should dont provide assurance to the facts. The article is definitely scientifically reasonable with all research and picture evidence though. The take away message from this article is that Amber resin can be used to distinguish the evolution of insects/mites from as far back as the Triassic period, for many years to come. The discovery of the two new mites was a step in also finding a more efficient way to cultivate Amber resin, but a more efficient method could take years to figure out. The accuracy of facts and authors biases was stated previousl y but there is no doubt the detailed report and high quality pictures prove the accuracy of this article. The fact this article made nationwide news and was republished by many different writers shows how important it becomes for science discovery of all arthropods. The future lies in resolving the constraining factor in this field work to cultivate more areas in North America David Grimaldi suggested using high-resolution lasers to automate the screening, or of engaging the assistance of a group of students to help (Choi, 2012). With this discovery, we are all ready to go back and screen through lots more, Grimaldi says. Arthropods are the most diverse group of creatures on Earth, making up more than 50 percent of all known species. Theyre one of the key lineages of life (Heming, 2003). Anything that can be done to better Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48806420/#.UHJzmU3A-UN by Charles Choi from Science on NBC News.com (8/27/2012)

Bugs In The News Rough Draft

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Nick Panos

understand what led to all research successes and failures can tell us how arthropods shaped the planet in the past and how they are shaping the planet today. The bottom line is that this discovery is no small matter and should be looked at closely.

WORKS CITED Arthropods in Amber from the Triassic Period." Abstract Report. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://www.pnas.org/content/109/37/14796>. Choi, Charles. "230-million-year-old Mite Found Preserved in Amber." Msnbc.com. MSNBC Digital Network, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 05 Oct. 2012. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48806420/>." Frost, S.W. Insect Life and Mite Natural History: General Entomology. Second ed. New York: Dover Publications, 1959. Print. Heming, B. S. Insect Development and Evolution. Ithaca: Comstock Pub. Associates, 2003. Print. Salmela, Jukka. "The Semiaquatic Nematoceran Fly Assemblages of Three Wetland Habitats and Concordance with Plant Species Composition, a Case Study from Subalpine Fennoscandia." Reading. Journal of Insect Science Volume 11. Web. 6 Oct. 2012. <http://www.insectscience.org/11.35/i1536-2442-11-35.pdf>. Walter, David. "ARTHROPODS: MITE HABITATS AND MINOR ARACHNIDS."MTU.edu. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://www.bryoecol.mtu.edu/chapters_2011/9-2Arthropods_Mite_Habitats.pdf>.

Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48806420/#.UHJzmU3A-UN by Charles Choi from Science on NBC News.com (8/27/2012)