Termite communities and their early evolution and ecology trapped in Cretaceous Amber

Termites are estimated to have originated in the Late Jurassic with an evolutionary radiation in the Early Cretaceous. This rapidly evolved eusocial group, having close associations with the ecological communities and surrounding environments, established delicate microecosystems in the Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems. Cretaceous amber with well-preserved clues of natural history provide a time portal for paleoentomologists to study the ecosystems in this geological age. Herein, we review the termites and related inclusions reported from Cretaceous amber. Studies on fossil termites have been active in the last two decades with the discoveries of diverse taxa, early eusociality, feeding habits, termitophiles, etc. Termite interactions have been demonstrated by either co-embedded specimens or specialized morphologies known from the extant evidence. The termites and associated communities in Cretaceous amber are significant for us to understand the termites' early evolution, ecology and eusociality that had complicated interactions in their nests. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Termites originated in the Late Jurassic and underwent an evolutionary radiation in the Early Cretaceous, establishing delicate microecosystems in the surrounding environments. Cretaceous amber preserves clues of their ecological history, providing insights into the ecosystems of this geological age. Research on fossil termites in the last two decades has revealed diverse taxa, early eusociality, feeding habits, and termitophiles, demonstrating the complex interactions within their nests and associated communities.