Zhi-Teng CHEN 陈志腾

Abstract: This study explores the intricate parasitic relationship between a caddisfly larva and a trematode preserved in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Through detailed morphological analysis, the caddisfly larva is classified within the suborder Integripalpia, closely resembling the family Calamoceratidae. Likewise, the parasite, exhibiting traits consistent with flatworms of the phylum Platyhelminthes, is tentatively identified as a digenean trematode. The discovery of ectoparasitism, where the trematode firmly attaches to the caddisfly larval exterior surface, challenges conventional understandings of trematode behavior, suggesting a departure from typical endobiotic lifestyles. The first finding of fossil flatworm parasitism on an aquatic insect sheds light on the evolutionary flexibility of trematodes and their ability to exploit diverse ecological niches. Moreover, the complex parasitic lifecycle, involving intricate stages from egg release to host transmission, underscores the complex interactions between organisms in ancient ecosystems.

Keywords: Aquatic insects, Burmese amber, Cretaceous ecosystem, paleoparasitology, taxonomy

摘要：本研究揭示了一种毛翅目幼虫与吸虫纲寄生虫在白垩纪中期缅甸琥珀中保存的复杂寄生关系。通过形态学分析，该毛翅目幼虫被归入完须亚目（Integripalpia），并与现生枝石蛾科（Calamoceratidae）形态高度相似。与其共生的寄生虫具有扁形动物门（Platyhelminthes）吸虫纲的典型特征，初步鉴定为复殖吸虫（Digenea）。该吸虫以体外寄生形式牢固附着于毛翅目幼虫体表，此发现挑战了传统认知——吸虫通常营体内寄生生活，表明其行为模式在早期演化中已呈现多样性。此为首例水生昆虫化石中吸虫寄生现象的记录，揭示了吸虫纲生物的演化可塑性及其对多样化生态位的利用能力。此外，从虫卵释放到宿主传播的复杂寄生生活史，进一步印证了古生态系统中生物间相互作用的精密性。

关键词：水生昆虫，缅甸琥珀，白垩纪生态系统，古寄生虫学，分类学

Published online: 2025-03-25 11:11:31

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