Cicadidae is one of the most species-rich insect families today. However, compared to the number of extant species, fossil records of Cicadidae are extremely limited. Among singing cicadas, the tribe Platypleurini within the Cicadinae subfamily is notable for its broad geographic distribution, high species diversity, and distinctive features, but no reliable fossil records have been discovered to date. In this study, we report the first fossil record of the Platypleurini from the Eocene Messel Pit: a new genus and species, Eoplatypleura messelensis. This species not only represents one of the earliest known fossil crown-group Cicadidae from the Eurasian continent but also the oldest confirmed record of the subfamily Cicadinae worldwide to date. As the first described fossil singing cicada from the Eocene Messel Pit, this discovery enriches the species diversity of the Messel biota and fills a significant gap in the Eocene cicada fossil record. The discovery of E. messelensis gen. et sp. nov. will serve as a fossil calibration point for future molecular phylogenetic studies and provides new insights into the origins and dispersal patterns of Platypleurini. Based on the analysis of existing records, Cicadidae was once widely distributed in Germany and across Europe during the Cenozoic.

Abteilung Paläontologie Bonner Institut für Organismische Biologie Universität Bonn Nußallee 8 53115 Bonn Germany

Australian Museum Research Institute Sydney NSW 2010 Australia

Institute of Geology and Paleontology Charles University Albertov 6 Prague 2 Prague 12843 Czech Republic

Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut Eberswalder Straße 90 15374 Müncheberg Germany

Senckenberg Forschungsstation Grube Messel Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt Main Markstraße 35 64409 Messel Germany

State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing 210008 China

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Williams, K. S. & Simon, C. The ecology, behavior, and evolution of periodical cicadas. Annu. Rev. Entomol.40, 269–295. 10.1146/annurev.en.40.010195.001413 (1995).

Moulds, M. An appraisal of the higher classification of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea) with special reference to the Australian fauna. Rec. Aust. Mus.57, 375–446. 10.3853/j.0067-1975.57.2005.1447 (2005).

Moulds, M. A review of the genera of Australian cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea). Zootaxa3287, 1–262. 10.11646/zootaxa.3287.1.1 (2012).

Zhang, G., Zhang, J., Xie, G., Liu, Z. & Shao, H. Cicada wings: a stamp from nature for nanoimprint lithography. Small2, 1440–1443. 10.1002/smll.200600255 (2006). PubMed

Kelleher, S. M. et al. Cicada wing surface topography: an investigation into the bactericidal properties of nanostructural features. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces8, 14966–14974. 10.1021/acsami.5b08309 (2016). PubMed

Jiang, H. et al. Mesozoic evolution of cicadas and their origins of vocalization and root feeding. Nat. Commun.15, 376. 10.1038/s41467-023-44446-x (2024). PubMed PMC

Marshall, D. C. et al. A molecular phylogeny of the cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) with a review of tribe and subfamily classification. Zootaxa4424, 1–64. 10.11646/zootaxa.4424.1.1 (2018). PubMed

Simon, C. et al. Off-target capture data, endosymbiont genes and morphology reveal a relict lineage that is sister to all other singing cicadas. Biol. J. Linn. Soc.128, 865–886. 10.1093/biolinnean/blz120 (2019).

Bartlett, C. R. et al. The diversity of the true hoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). Insect Biodiv. Sci. Soc.2, 5011–590. 10.1002/9781118945582.ch19 (2018).

Evans, J. W. The morphology of Tettigarcta tomentosa White, (Homoptera, Cicadidae). Pap. proc. R. Soc. Tasman. 35–49 (1941). (1940).

Pringle, J. W. S. The structure and evolution of the organs of sound-production in cicadas. Proc. Linn. Soc. London167, 144–159. 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1957.tb00788.x (1957).

Moulds, M. Australian Cicadas 217 (New South Wales University, 1990).

J Lambkin, K. Mesodiphthera tillyard, 1919, from the late triassic of Queensland, the oldest Cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadoidea: Tettigarctidae). Zootaxa4567, 358–366. 10.11646/zootaxa.4567.2.8 (2019). PubMed

Jouault, C., Nam, G. S., Boderau, M., Kwon, S. H. & Nel, A. A new triassic Tettigarctidae (Insecta, Hemiptera) from the Amisan formation (Republic of Korea). Palaeoentomology7, 132–140. 10.11646/palaeoentomology.7.1.9 (2024).

Scotese, C. R., Vérard, C., Burgener, L., Elling, R. P. & Kocsis, Á. T. Phanerozoic-scope supplementary material to the Cretaceous world: Plate Tectonics, Paleogeography, and Paleoclimate from the PALEOMAP project (v24221) [Data set]. Zenodo. 10.5281/zenodo.10659112 (2024).

Cooper, K. W. Davispia bearcreekensis Cooper, a new Cicada from the paleocene, with a brief review of the fossil cicadidae. Am. J. Sci.239, 286–304. 10.2475/ajs.239.4.286 (1941).

Li, H. et al. Mitochondrial phylogenomics of hemiptera reveals adaptive innovations driving the diversification of true bugs. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci.284, 20171223. 10.1098/rspb.2017.1223 (2017). PubMed PMC

P Johnson, K. et al. Phylogenomics and the evolution of hemipteroid insects. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.115, 12775–12780. 10.1073/pnas.1815820115 (2018). PubMed PMC

Moulds, M. Cicada fossils (Cicadoidea: Tettigarctidae and Cicadidae) with a review of the named fossilised Cicadidae. Zootaxa4438, 443–470. 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.3.2 (2018). PubMed

Scudder, S. H. Some insects of special interest from florissant, Colorado, and other points in the tertiaries of Colorado and Utah. Report 93. (1892).

Cockerell, T. D. A. A fossil Cicada from florissant, Colorado. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.22, 457–458 (1906).

CockerellT. D. A. Descriptions of tertiary insects. Am. J. Sci.s4-25 (51-52). 10.2475/ajs.s4-25.145.51 (1908).

Boulard, M. Contributions à L’entomologie générale et appliquée. 2. Cicadaires (Homoptères, Auchenorhynques). Première partie: Cicadoidea. EPHE Trav. Lab. Biol. Evol. Ins. Hemipteroidea3, 55–245 (1990).

ThéobaldN. Les insectes fossiles des terrains oligocenes de France. Bull. Mensuel (Mémoires) De La. Société Des. Sci. De Nancy1, 1–473 (1937).

Tietz, O., Berner, T. & Matting, E. Insekten Aus dem Unteroligozän von Seifhennersdorf in der Oberlausitz. Abh Ber Nat. Kd Mus. Görlitz70, 139–154 (1998).

Meunier, F. Nouvelles recherches Sur Quelques insectes des plâtrières d’Aix-en-Provence. Verh Konink Akad. Weten Amsterdam18, 1–17 (1915).

Takahashi, Y., Aiba, H. & Aida, M. A cicadid Hind wing fossil (Hemiptera, Cicadidae) from the lower miocene Masaragawa formation, Seki, Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. J. Geol. Soc. Japan130, 199–203. 10.5575/geosoc.2024.0011 (2024).

Becker-Migdisova, E. E. Nakhodka Yuzhnoi Tsikady V Miotsene zapadnoi sibiri [The discovery of a southern cicada in the Miocene of Western Siberia]. Voprosy Geologii Azii [Geol. Probl. Asia]1, 799–805 (1954).

Poinar, G. & Kritsky, G. Morphological conservatism in the foreleg structure of Cicada hatchlings, Burmacicada proteran. Gen., N. Sp. in Burmese amber, Dominicicada Youngi N. Gen., N. Sp. in Dominican amber and the extant Magicicada septendecim (L.) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). Hist. Biol.24, 461–466. 10.1080/08912963.2011.603421 (2012).

Poinar, G., Kritsky, G. & Brown, A. Minyscapheus Dominicanus N. gen., N. Sp. (Hemiptera: Cicadidae), a fossil cicada in Dominican amber. Hist. Biol.24, 329–333. 10.1080/08912963.2011.635791 (2012).

Prokop, J. & Boulard, M. Tibicina Sakalai N. sp., Cigale fossile du miocene inferieur de Tchecoslovaquie (Auchenorhyncha [Auchenorrhyncha], Cicadidae, Tibicininae). [Tibicina Sakalai N. sp., fossil cicada of the Lower miocene of Czechoslovakia (Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadidae, Tibicininae)]. EPHE Trav Lab. Biol. Evol. Ins. Hemipteroidea13, 127–131 (2000).

Zhang, J., Sun, B. & Zhang, X. Miocene Insects and Spiders from Shanwang, Shandong 298 (Science Press, 1994).

Zhang, J. & Zhang, X. Fossil insects of Cicada (Homoptera) and true Bugs (Heteroptera) from Shanwang, Shandong. Acta Palaeontol. Sin.29, 337–348 (1990).

Zhang, J. Fossil Insects from Shanwang, Shandong, China 459 (Shandong Science and Technology, 1989).

Moulds, M. S. Reassessment of the cicada fossil Oncotympana lapidescens Zhang, 1989 with the description of a new genus (Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae). Palaeoentomology3, 333–337. 10.11646/palaeoentomology.3.4.1 (2020).

Fujiyama, I. A miocene Cicada from Nasu, with an additional record of a pleistocene Cicada from Shiobara, Japan (Tertiary insect fauna of Japan, 3). Bull. Nat. Sci. Mus. Tokyo12, 863–873 (1969).

Moulds, M., Frese, M. & McCurry, M. R. New Cicada fossils from Australia (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae) with remarkably detailed wing surface nanostructure. Alcheringa Australasian J. Palaeontol.46, 264–276. 10.1080/03115518.2022.2112287 (2022).

Wang, B. et al. The mid-Miocene Zhangpu biota reveals an outstandingly rich rainforest biome in East Asia. Sci. Adv.7, eabg0625. 10.1126/sciadv.abg0625 (2021). PubMed PMC

Heer, O. Die insektenfauna der tertiargebilde von Oeningen und von Radoboj in Croatien. Neue Denkschr Allg Schweiz. Ges Gesammten Naturwiss13, 1–138 (1853).

Kinugasa, Y. & Miyataki, Y. A neogene Cicada from Tatsumi-toge, Tottori pref. Japan Bull. Osaka Mus. Nat. History30, 5–10 (1976).

Fujiyama, I. Some fossil cicadas from neogene of Japan. Bull. Nat. Sci. Mus. Tokyo Ser. C (Geol. Paleontol.)8, 181–187 (1982).

Kinugasa, Y. & Miyataki, Y. The second neogene Cicada from Tatsumi-tôge, Tottori Prefecture, Japan (Homoptera:Cicadidae). Bull. Osaka Museum Nat. History32, 1–6 (1979).

Riou, B. Lyristes Renei N. sp., Cigale fossile du miocène ardéchois (Homoptera Cicadidae). EPHE Biol. Evol. Insectes7–8, 73–76 (1995).

Boulard, M. & Riou, B. Tibicina gigantea N. Sp. cigale fossile de La Montagne D’Andance (Homoptera, Tibicinidae). Nouv Rev. Entomol. (N S)5, 349–351 (1988).

Boulard, M. & Riou, B. Miocenoprasia Grasseti n. g., n. sp., Grande Cigale fossile du miocene de La Montagne D’Andance (Cicadomorpha Cicadidae Tibicininae). EPHE Biol. Evol. Insectes11/12, 135–140 (1999).

Wagner, W. Die Singzikaden (Homoptera, Cidadae [sic]) aus dem Pliozän von Willershausen. Ber Naturhist Ges Hannover111, 91–94 (1967).

Moulds, M., Kaulfuss, U. & Gehler, A. A review of the singing Cicada fossils from the Pliocene Fossil-Lagerstätte Willershausen, Germany, with the description of three new species (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Tibicinae and Cicadinae). Palaeoentomology6, 459–471. 10.11646/palaeoentomology.6.5.5 (2023).

Inoue, S. Fossil Insects from the Onsen-machi 47 (Onsen-machi Board of Education, 1986).

Fujiyama, I. Some late Cenozoic cicadas from Japan. Bull. Nat. Sci. Mus. Tokyo Ser. C5, 139–152 (1979).

Price, B. W., Marshall, D. C., Barker, N. P., Simon, C. & Villet, M. H. Out of Africa? A dated molecular phylogeny of the Cicada tribe platypleurini Schmidt (Hemiptera: Cicadidae), with a focus on African genera and the genus Platypleura Amyot & Audinet-Serville. Syst. Entomol.44, 842–861. 10.1111/syen.12360 (2019).

Beck, H. E. et al. Present and future Koppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution. Sci. Data5, 180214. 10.1038/sdata.2018.214 (2018). PubMed PMC

Lenz, O. K., Wilde, V. & Riegel, W. Short-term fluctuations in vegetation and phytoplankton during the middle eocene greenhouse climate: a 640-kyr record from the Messel oil shale (Germany). Int. J. Earth Sci.100, 1851–1874. 10.1007/s00531-010-0609-z (2011).

Tütken, T. Isotope compositions (C, O, Sr, Nd) of vertebrate fossils from the middle eocene oil shale of Messel, Germany: implications for their taphonomy and palaeoenvironment. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol.416, 92–109. 10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.08.005 (2014).

Harms, F. J., Aderhold, G., Hoffmann, I., Nix, T. & Rosenberg, F Erläuterungen zur Grube Messel bei Darmstadt, Südhessen. Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft8 181–222. 10.1127/jmogv/83/2001/145 (1999).

Felder, M. & Harms, F. J. Lithologie und genetische Interpretation der vulkano-sedimentären Ablagerungen aus der Grube Messel anhand der Forschungsbohrung Messel 2001 und weiterer Bohrungen. Cour. Forsch. Inst. Senckenberg252, 151–203 (2004).

Marell, D. Das Rotliegende Zwischen Odenwald und Taunus. Abh Hess Geol. Landesanst89 (1989).

Mezger, J. E., Felder, M. & Harms, F. J. Crystalline rocks in the Maar deposits of Messel: key to understand the geometries of the Messel fault zone and diatreme and the post-eruptional development of the basin fill. Z. Dtsch. Geol. Ges.164, 639–662. 10.1127/1860-1804/2013/0034 (2013).

Kaboth-Bahr, S. et al. Improved chronostratigraphy for the Messel Formation (Hesse, Germany) provides insight into early to middle Eocene climate variability. Newsl. Stratigr.57, 153–170. 10.1127/nos/2024/0799 (2024).

Goth, K. Der Messeler Ölschiefer-ein Algenlaminit. Cour. Forsch. Inst. Senckenberg131, 1–143 (1990).

Grein, M., Utescher, T., Wilde, V. & Roth-Nebelsick, A. Reconstruction of the middle Eocene climate of Messel using palaeobotanical data. Neues Jahrb Geol. Palaeontol. Abh260, 305–318. 10.1127/0077-7749/2011/0139 (2011).

Berg, D. E. Die Krokodile, insbesondere Asiatosuchus und aff. Sebecus? aus dem Eozän von Messel bei Darmstadt/Hessen. Abh Hess Landesamtes Bodenforsch52, 1–105 (1966).

Markwick, P. J. Crocodilian diversity in space and time: the role of climate in paleoecology and its implication for understanding K/T extinctions. Paleobiology24, 470–497 (1998).

Batsch, A. J. & Batsch, A. J. G. C. Versuch einer Anleitung, zur Kenntniß und Geschichte der Thiere und Mineralien, für akademische Vorlesungen entworfen und mit den nöthigsten Abbildungen versehen. 1 (Akad. Buchh., 1788).

Schmidt, E. Platypleura frontalis, eine neue Singcicade von Sumatra (Rhynchota Homoptera). Stettiner entomologische Zeitung79, 378 (1918).

Boulard, M. Classification raisonnée des platypleures Africaines (Homoptera-Cicadidae). Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat.90, 1161–1188 (1972).

Villet, M. New taxa of South African platypleurine cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae). J. Entomol. Soc. South Afr.52, 51–70. 10.10520/AJA00128789_3398 (1989).

Boulard, M. Cigales Africaines nouvelles ou mal connues de la famille des Cicadidae (Homoptera, Cicadoidea). Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. (N S)21, 175–188. 10.1080/21686351.1985.12278406 (1985).

Sanborn, A. F. Redescription of the Cicada genus Pycna amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Platypleurini) with the formation of two new genera, one new species, one revised species status and twenty-four new combinations. Zootaxa4722, 157–174. 10.11646/zootaxa.4722.2.3 (2020). PubMed

Distant, W. L. XXIII. Additions to a knowledge of the family Cicadidæ. Trans. R Entomol. Soc. London52, 667–676. 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1904.tb02757.x (1904a).

Kato, M. Descriptions of some new Japanese and exotic Cicadidae. Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Formosa17, 274–283 (1927).

Distant, W. L. XLIV.—Rhynchotal notes.—XXVI. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.14, 293–303. 10.1080/03745480409443011 (1904b).

Moulton, J. C. Cicadas of Malaysia. J. Fed. Malay. States Mus.11, 69–182 (1923).

Lee, Y. J. Descriptions of two new Cicada genera and a new species of platypleurini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae), with some taxonomic changes and comments on the genus Platypleura Amyot & Audinet-Serville. J. Insect Biodivers.54, 48–57. 10.12976/jib/2024.54.2.3 (2024).

Kato, M. A new genus of Cicadidae. Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Formosa16, 238 (1926).

Distant, W. L. Rhynchotal notes. XXXII. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.15, 478–486 (1905).

Amyot, C. J. B. & Audinet-Serville, J. G. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Hémiptères. 1–676 (Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, 1843).

Boulard, M. Création du genre Sechellalna pour Yanga seychellensis distant 1912 Cigale dépurvue d’organe sonore (Rhynchota, Cicadidae). Lambillionea110, 334–337 (2010).

Villet, M. H. Re-evaluation of Ashton’s types of African cicadas (Homoptera cicadidae). Trop. Zool.12, 209–218. 10.1080/03946975.1999.10539389 (1999).

Kato, M. Descriptions of two new genera of Japanese cicadidae and corrections of some species. Insect World32, 182–188 (1928).

Sanborn, A. F., Villet, M. H. & Phillips, P. K. Hot-blooded singers: endothermy facilitates crepuscular signaling in African platypleurine cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Platypleura spp). Sci. Nat.90, 305–308. 10.1007/s00114-003-0428-1 (2003). PubMed

Nguyen, H. Q. et al. A time-calibrated mitogenomic phylogeny suggests that Korean Hyalessa fuscata is a Bridge between Chinese and Japanese H. maculaticollis. J. Genet.102 (2022). PubMed

Schaal, S. F. K. in Terrestrial Conservation Lagerstatten. Windows into the Evolution of Life on Land (eds Nicholas C. Fraser & Hans-Dieter Sues) 257–286 (Liverpool University Press, 2018).

Smith, K. T., Schaal, S. & Habersetzer, J. (eds) Messel – an Ancient Greenhouse Ecosystem. 355 (E. Schweizerbart‘sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 2018).

Smith, K. T. The Messel pit: window into a greenhouse world. Geoconserv. Res.410.30486/gcr.2021.1926272.1087 (2021).

Lenz, O. K. & Wilde, V. Changes in eocene plant diversity and composition of vegetation: the lacustrine archive of Messel (Germany). Paleobiology44, 709–735. 10.1017/pab.2018.25 (2018).

Westerhold, T. et al. An astronomically dated record of earth’s climate and its predictability over the last 66 million years. Science369, 1383–1387. 10.1126/science.aba6853 (2020). PubMed

Lutz, H. Systematische und palökologische Untersuchungen an Insekten aus dem Mittel-Eozän der Grube Messel bei Darmstadt. Cour. Forsch. Inst. Senckenberg124, 1–165 (1990).

Ezcurra, M. D. & Agnolín, F. L. A new global palaeobiogeographical model for the late mesozoic and early tertiary. Syst. Biol.61, 553–566. 10.1093/sysbio/syr115 (2012). PubMed

Smith, T. et al. New early eocene vertebrate assemblage from Western India reveals a mixed fauna of European and Gondwana affinities. Geosci. Front.7, 969–1001. 10.1016/j.gsf.2016.05.001 (2016).