Here’s a story that’s difficult to report properly. It’s the discovery of adults & nymphs of a predatory aquatic insect related to mayflies called Coxoplectoptera. A new order of insects! The science news outlets have several stories covering what looks like a truly fantastic find.
Yet, if you’re looking for the actual research itself, good luck. The press coverage has been published ahead of the original research. The journal homepage, Insect Systematics & Evolution, is still on the previous issue. None of the stories even carry a citation to a paper in press. Thus, if you have any questions about the research methods or conclusions, you’re stuck with the popular media’s accounts.
The purpose of a press embargo is to give media outlets time to prepare so they’re ready to cover a story accurately and in detail once the underlying science becomes public. It makes for better reportage. Yet if the embargo lifts at the wrong time, the effect reverses. An elite press touts exclusive knowledge, and we have to trust them.
If embargoes can’t be done properly, they shouldn’t be done at all.
Fortunately for our purposes, though, the lead author has listed the citation on his website. Thus, if you’re looking for the actual meat behind this discovery, here are the details:
STANICZEK, A. & BECHLY, G. & GODUNKO, R.J. (2011): Coxoplectoptera, a new fossil order of Palaeoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta), with comments on the phylogeny of the stem group of mayflies (Ephemeroptera). – Insect Systematics & Evolution, 42: 101-138.
Or you could ask a palaeoentomologist friend if they can get it for you…
[link removed on request of the author]
Ach, you provided the details anyway. I should have read to the end before posting!
‘s okay. I prefer links anyway, they’re faster 🙂
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Found one in west central minnesota, want confirmation though. Identical to the nymph photo. Anyone help.
Sure it wasn’t an amphipod?
Nah !
Eric likely has found a 130 million year old living fossil in the wilds of central Minnesota.
Eric can post pictures of his Coxoplectoptera real soon now and resolve the whole deal, get famous, and earn millions !!!
http://www.insectsofiowa.com/mayflies/Ephemeridae/Hexagenia_limbata.JPG
I dunno, Bob. That link looks like a Coxoplectoptera to me.
OMGzomyum !!
!) find wierd looking bug-mayfly-type
2) crush it under 20 megatons of fine dirt (paint it’s tarsi a nice shade of pink with embossed micro-images of Lady Gaga)
3) it is a NEW insect order / living fossil based on computer model linear regression / time series older than dirt / with sample size less than 10
3) PROFIT !!