Monte San Giorgio, already known for its invaluable paleontological heritage, continues to surprise the international scientific community with new discoveries that enrich the understanding of life on Earth in the Triassic. Recent findings of as many as 248 fossil insects, dating back 239 million years, were published in the prestigious journal Communication Biology, of the Nature group, bringing the importance of this Ticino site to the world stage.
The fossils, discovered during paleontological excavation campaigns conducted between 2020 and 2023 along the Gaggiolo stream, near Meride, represent an unprecedented discovery due to their extraordinary preservation and variety. The Cantonal Museum of Natural History (MCSN) collaborated with researchers from the Federico II University of Naples, including the professor of general entomology Matteo Montagna and the researcher Giulia Magoga, to describe this fauna of Triassic insects, which provides new information on the evolution of insects after the Permian mass extinction, which occurred approximately 251 million years ago.
Fossil insects at Mount San Giorgio: here are the species
The fossils , although small (ranging from 2 millimeters to 2,5 centimeters), are exceptionally well preserved , allowing for the observation of extremely fine morphological details. The collection includes a wide range of species, from freshwater insects such as dragonflies and caddisflies to terrestrial species such as cockroaches, bugs, and wasps . Among the most significant finds are the Magnicapitixyela dilettae, the oldest wasp discovered to date, and a preserved female cockroach with reproductive organs.
These finds have already led to the description, last April, of Merithone laetitiae, a complete specimen belonging to a now extinct family of insects , as reported in the Swiss Journal of Palaeontology.
A sensational hypothesis on the spread of life on our planet
A particularly interesting aspect is the finding of rounded elements on the abdomen of some dipteran specimens. These structures could represent reproductive units of the insect or, as hypothesized by some scholars, spores of primitive mosses. If confirmed, this second hypothesis could indicate the first Involvement of insects in the dispersal of plant reproductive units, providing new insights into the evolution of pollination.
Monte San Giorgio, already famous for its vertebrate fossils, is thus confirmed as a site of global importance also for paleontological research in the entomological field. The extraordinary preservation and diversity of the fossils discovered allow us to shed new light on the adaptation and evolution of insects after the most drastic mass extinction event in the history of our planet, which led to the disappearance of about 80% of living species.
This discovery further strengthens the role of Monte San Giorgio as a major site of interest for paleontology, underlining its relevance not only for the study of vertebrates, but also for its incredible contribution to the knowledge of ancient ecosystems and the evolution of insects.
For further information and details on the findings, you can consult the article published in Communication Biology and visit the website of the Cantonal Museum of Natural History.
Pictures:
Photo excavation Meride, 2023 – Photo F. Magnani (©MCSN)
Fossil Wasp – Magnificapitixyela dilettae – Photo F. Magnani (©MCSN)
