The First Record of Whitefly (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae) from Bitterfeld Amber

TL;DR

Scientists discovered a male whitefly fossil in Bitterfeld amber, providing new insights into the species' morphology and distribution in the Eocene era.

Contribution

The first male fossil of Pudrica christianottoi is described, expanding knowledge on sexual dimorphism and biogeography of Eocene whiteflies.

Findings

A male Pudrica christianottoi fossil was found in Bitterfeld amber, previously only known from a female specimen.

The fossil provides new data on sexual dimorphism and morphological variation in this whitefly species.

The discovery contributes to understanding the paleobiogeography and taphonomy of Eocene European resins.

Abstract

Scientists have found a male whitefly fossil in Bitterfeld amber. It is a species called Pudrica christianottoi Drohojowska et Szwedo, 2024. Until now, this species has only been found as a single female from Lower Lusatia amber. The fossil species is a member of the family Aleyrodidae of the insect order Hemiptera. These small, inconspicuous insects live on and feed off plants, often being unnoticed as they dwell on the underside of leaves. There are more than 1700 species of whitefly worldwide. These insects are mainly sorted into groups based on their larval form, called the puparium. The fossil record of whiteflies includes over 30 species, found as mostly as adults, and exceptionally as puparia. The new specimen provides new data about the imago’s morphology and shows how sexual dimorphism creates differences in appearance. The fossil male was found in a different area, so it also gives us new information about where the whiteflies that are now extinct were found. It also adds to the ongoing discussion about the age, similarities and differences in how Eocene resins in Europe are formed.

A male specimen of whitefly Pudrica christianottoi Drohojowska et Szwedo, 2024, of subfamily Aleyrodinae, previously known from the sole female specimen from Lower Lusatia succinite, is here described, based on an inclusion from Bitterfeld amber. This fossil is contributing new data to our understanding of morphological disparity, sexual dimorphism, taxonomic diversity and palaeobiogeographic distribution of the whiteflies in the Eocene fossil resins. It is also a contribution to the ongoing discussions on age, similarities, dissimilarities and taphonomic differences among Eocene resins of Europe collectively known as ‘Baltic amber’.

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