Scientists have discovered a 47-million-year-old fossil fly with a stomach filled with pollen. This is reported by Science alert.
As noted, this discovery was the first direct evidence that some species of ancient flies once fed on microspores of subtropical plants.
In addition, the presence of pollen in the stomachs of the fly suggests that these insects played an important role in the pollination of several taxa of plants.
The fly fossil was found in an abandoned quarry near Frankfurt, a new species of the ancient short-tailed fly (Hirmoneura messelense).
Traces of pollen from at least four families of plants were found in her intestines and stomach, including water willow and maiden grapes, which probably grew at the edge of the forest near the ancient lake.
On the fly’s body, the researchers saw long bristles on which the insect could carry pollen.
The study authors believe that pollinating flies may once have been more effective than bees.
This new discovery confirms the long-standing hypothesis that, in some modern tropical environments, flies flying from flower to flower are just as, if not more important, than some pollinating bees.
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