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A new social insect nest from the Upper Cretaceous Kaiparowits Formation of southern Utah

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2017

Eric M. Roberts  and
Leif Tapanila
Eric M. Roberts
Affiliation:
School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,
Leif Tapanila
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello 83209-8072,
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Abstract

A fossilized social insect nest, Socialites tumulus new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, is described from continental strata of the Upper Cretaceous Kaiparowits Formation in southern Utah. Nine discrete nest structures are preserved along a single bedding plane, within an area of about 25 m2. Fine-grained, ripple-laminated sandstone, interpreted as a fluvial crevasse splay deposit, drapes the nest structures and is thought to have rapidly buried and preserved much of the aboveground architectural morphology of the nest structures. Such social insects as ants and termites are considered as possible tracemakers. Comparison to fossil and modern nests suggests that Socialites tumulus is more similar to nests produced by ants than by termites. This trace fossil preserves rare, tangible evidence of nest construction by social insects during the Late Cretaceous, adding new information on insect diversity and habitat utilization in Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems. Detailed study of these complex nest structures also aids in paleoenvironmental reconstruction, revealing multiple phases of nest construction, burial, and reestablishment.

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Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 80 , Issue 4 , July 2006 , pp. 768 - 774
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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