A prehistoric species of bug with claws has been discovered in Myanmar based on an intact fossil trapped in amber. The insect, found in Kachin state, represents the first fossil bug with a forceps-like leg and sheds light on a 100-million-year-old forest ecosystem.
Its large claws, or chelae, on its front legs are similar to those of crabs and extremely rare in insects. 'Previously, such chelae were known from only three insect groups. This fossil represents the fourth known case of these structures evolving independently in insects,' said zoologist Carolin Haug, an author of the study published in the journal Insects.
Scientists placed the fossil in a new genus, Carcinonepa libererrantes. The genus name combines Latinized Greek for 'crab' with nepa, referencing true water bugs. The species name libererrantes is a Latinisation of the K-pop group Stray Kids, chosen because the fossil's chelae posture resembles the group's trademark pose.
Using CT X-ray scans, researchers compared over 2,000 grasping structures and found the chelae's shape is unknown from any other fossil or modern insect. The claws were likely used for catching small insects near the coast, and the bug's body structure suggests a lifestyle similar to modern toad bugs.
