A Triassic Fossil Insect Nest Gall Wasp

[Kurufossils]

Wanted to share an usual fossil I self collected a long time ago from the Triassic of New Jersey that I can't really find images of elsewhere on here. This a fossilized large Gall wasp nest,  took me awhile to figure this one out initially. I've seen fossils insects but its a pleasant suprise to see a fossilized insect nest.

[Tidgy's Dad]

I didn't think gall wasps evolved until the Cretaceous?

https://www.nrm.se/download/18.42129f1312d951207af800041622/Ronquist_et_al_Evol_2001.PDF

[Norki]

I'm definitely no entomologist, but apparently Hymenoptera originated in the Triassic period, so there's definitely a possibility that this was created by a different wasp-like insect.

 

Or a different clade of insects altogether, who knows. Like any trace fossil it's unlikely that you'll be able to assign a specific animal to this trace, but because of the fact that Hymenopterans existed during this period, as well as the superficial similarity of the specimen to a gall wasp nest, I suppose that it's a fair speculation.

[Kurufossils]

Here is an image of one of the fossil insects gall from the Upper Triassic of southern Brazil from where I made the comparison for reference. Not to sure what species it would be so I just labeled it as gall wasp for now as I'm not to sure what other insects make galls, though its certainly an insect gall of some sorts.

[Fossildude19]

Has any paleontologist had a look at this? 

This could be scientifically important. 

[Kurufossils]

@Fossildude19

Unfortunately I never have luck getting into contact with the main Triassic expert of the east coast Paul E. Olsen, I've shown a few things to Paris of the NJSM though it would be nice to to have someone like Paul check out a few interesting things.

[Fossildude19]

3 hours ago, Kurufossils said:

@Fossildude19

Unfortunately I never have luck getting into contact with the main Triassic expert of the east coast Paul E. Olsen, I've shown a few things to Paris of the NJSM though it would be nice to to have someone like Paul check out a few interesting things.

You might try contacting Brian Axsmith at The University of Southern Alabama. 

[LabRatKing]

23 hours ago, Kurufossils said:

Wanted to share an usual fossil I self collected a long time ago from the Triassic of New Jersey that I can't really find images of elsewhere on here. This a fossilized large Gall wasp nest,  took me awhile to figure this one out initially. I've seen fossils insects but its a pleasant suprise to see a fossilized insect nest.

  

 

Even if this isn't an insect gall, it could be a cone or seed or other plant related nodule. Either way, I'd make it priority to get intouch with a paleobotanist for sure.