Science AI Journal
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Research topic

Open research questions in Fossil Insects in Amber

70 gap statements mined from Fossil Insects in Amber papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 304 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Fossil Insects in Amber? See the ranked Biology journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • Further study of the fossil record of Evanioidea is needed to understand the evolution of the group. The discovery of A. hirsuta highlights the importance of continued exploration of Cretaceous amber deposits.

    A new lineage of evaniiform wasps in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) · 2026 · DOI

  • The larval stage of most species of the genus Allopodagrion is unknown. The relationship between the larva and the adult of A. contortum was not previously confirmed.

    Integrative taxonomy reveals the larva of Allopodagrion contortum (Hagen in Selys, 1862) (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae) from Southeastern Brazil · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the Jiyuan Basin fossil site is needed. More research on the biostratigraphic correlation between the Daohugou and Jiyuan fossil localities is required.

    A new species of Proptychopterina (Diptera: Nematocera: Ptychopteridae) from the Middle Jurassic of the Jiyuan Basin, China · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of description of insect fossils from the Jiyuan Basin. The biostratigraphic correlation between the Daohugou and Jiyuan fossil localities was unclear.

    A new species of Proptychopterina (Diptera: Nematocera: Ptychopteridae) from the Middle Jurassic of the Jiyuan Basin, China · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study is needed to fully understand the characteristics of the amber from the Jiufengshan Formation. Additional research is required to reconstruct the palaeovegetation of the Jiufengshan Formation. More work is needed to develop new methods for analyzing amber and other fossilized materials.

    Early Cretaceous amber from the Heibaoshan-Handaqi Basin, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the Kachin amber beetle fauna is needed to fully realize its potential for understanding beetle evolution and diversity. The use of modern imaging techniques, such as confocal microscopy and micro-computed tomography, could be further developed and applied to the study of fossil specimens.

    The beetle fauna of mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber: a systematic synthesis · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the unique characters of the mid-Cretaceous genus Punctocorydasialis. There is a need for more research on the evolution of Neuropterida.

    New unique characters of the mid-Cretaceous genus Punctocorydasialis Chen et al., 2026 (Neuropterida: Corydasialidae) · 2026 · DOI

  • The phylogenetic placement of the genera Euphilotes and Philotiella remains uncertain. In particular, the limits, composition, and diagnostic characters of several lineages remain insufficiently resolved and will require further phylogenetic, morphological, and biological study before robust diagnoses can be established.

    AWPL 2026(2) 27-35 Part V Rationale and framework for the Lycaenidae (part II) · 2026 · DOI

  • The study of fossil material can be challenging due to the limited preservation of anatomical structures. The delimitation of fossil taxa can be difficult due to the lack of complete specimens. The comparison of fossil and extant species can be challenging due to the differences in preservation and morphology.

    Hidden but unearthed: an unusual new genus and three new species for the planthopper family Nogodinidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from Early Miocene Mexican amber, with a key to New World Nogodinini · 2026 · DOI

  • The taxonomy of Devonian trilobites from the Cantabrian Mountains has received little attention since the principal contributions by earlier researchers. A systematic revision is necessary to bring the outdated nomenclature into line with contemporary frameworks.

    Revised and new Emsian (Lower Devonian) trilobites from Polentinos, Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper mentions the need for controlled conditions during resin extraction to prevent clogging of the resin canals.

    Resin does not safeguard insect DNA during early decay despite preservation of soft tissues · 2026 · DOI

  • The fossil is preserved in a piece of amber with uneven surfaces, which slightly impacts some views. Further trimming and polishing of the amber was impossible due to the closeness of the wasp to the amber surface.

    A new lineage of evaniiform wasps in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) · 2026 · DOI

  • The molecular diversity of the genus Ecdyonurus is high, making it challenging to resolve taxonomic relationships. The study of fossil mayflies can be challenging due to the limited availability of specimens. The use of COI barcoding and phylogenetic analysis can be limited by the quality of the sequences and the choice of methods.

    A new mayfly species of Ecdyonurus Eaton, 1868 from Eocene Baltic Amber and insights into the extant molecular diversity of the genus · 2026 · DOI

  • New and little known species of Sphecidae of Eastern Siberia and Far East of USSR.

    A revision of the Palearctic species of the genus Crabro Fabricius, 1775 (Hymenoptera: Spheciformes: Crabronidae), with reclassification of the world subgenera · 2026 · DOI

  • The study seeks to provide new data for studies of Mesozoic amber in China.

    Early Cretaceous amber from the Heibaoshan-Handaqi Basin, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China · 2026 · DOI

  • The study of fossil specimens can be challenging due to the limited availability of material and the difficulty of interpreting fossil evidence. The use of modern imaging techniques requires specialized expertise and equipment.

    The beetle fauna of mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber: a systematic synthesis · 2026 · DOI

  • Prior studies have addressed higher-level relationships within the Saturniidae, but with sparse taxon and often reduced gene sampling.

    Phylogenomics Illuminates the Evolutionary History of Wild Silkmoths in Space and Time (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) · 2026 · DOI

  • The study only examined two subfamilies of Aphalaridae. The molecular dataset was limited to 24 species. The study did not investigate the functional significance of cuticular microsculpture.

    Beyond the obvious: diversity and evolution of cuticular microsculpture in jumping plant lice of the subfamilies Aphalarinae and Rhinocolinae (Hemiptera, Psylloidea, Aphalaridae) · 2026 · DOI

  • Improved species identification in genetic databases - Development of alternative molecular markers - Expansion of taxon sampling to resolve taxonomic…

    A new mayfly species of Ecdyonurus Eaton, 1868 from Eocene Baltic Amber and insights into the extant molecular diversity of the genus · 2026 · DOI

  • Accounting for sampling bias in fossil insect assemblages. Propagating uncertainty through successive trophic steps. Integrating independent geochemical indicators and other plant data methods to cross-validate and further calibrate the reconstruction approach.

    Reconstructing vegetation biomass in the Middle Jurassic Yanliao Biota from insect fossil assemblages · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should integrate independent geochemical indicators and other plant data methods to cross-validate and further calibrate this reconstruction approach, - Research should focus on comparative analyses of terrestrial ecosystems through deep…

    Reconstructing vegetation biomass in the Middle Jurassic Yanliao Biota from insect fossil assemblages · 2026 · DOI

  • It is not difficult to imagine that large stag beetles are difficult to preserve in amber, and since the modern Lucaninae have a high proportion of large species, some caution is warranted in this regard…

    Taxonomic notes on Aesalinae stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae), with special reference to those in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber · 2026 · DOI

  • Further investigation of the functional significance of cuticular microsculpture. Examination of cuticular microsculpture in other subfamilies of Aphalaridae. Investigation of the evolution and diversity of cuticular microsculpture in other insect groups.

    Beyond the obvious: diversity and evolution of cuticular microsculpture in jumping plant lice of the subfamilies Aphalarinae and Rhinocolinae (Hemiptera, Psylloidea, Aphalaridae) · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of fossil material to better understand the evolution and diversity of Nogodinidae. Phylogenetic analysis of the new genus and species to determine their relationships to other members of the tribe. Investigation of the biology and ecology of planthoppers to inform conservation efforts and ecosystem management.

    Hidden but unearthed: an unusual new genus and three new species for the planthopper family Nogodinidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from Early Miocene Mexican amber, with a key to New World Nogodinini · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigate the preservation of insect DNA in resin over longer time periods, - Examine the effects of different types of resin on insect DNA preservation, - Study the preservation of soft tissues in other groups…

    Resin does not safeguard insect DNA during early decay despite preservation of soft tissues · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Fossil Insects in Amber

Most recent work

Find a gap in your own Fossil Insects in Amber sub-topic

This page shows what the Fossil Insects in Amber literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 4.5M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

Open the Research Gap Finder →

Related topics in Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
1,358 open questions
Plant Molecular Biology Research
703 open questions
Smart Agriculture and AI
671 open questions
Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
665 open questions
Agricultural Innovations and Practices
537 open questions
Agricultural Development and Management
531 open questions
Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
461 open questions
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
440 open questions
Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) Further study of the fossil record of Evanioidea is needed to understand the evolution of the group (“A new lineage of evaniiform wasps in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar…”, 2026); (2) The larval stage of most species of the genus Allopodagrion is unknown (“Integrative taxonomy reveals the larva of Allopodagrion contortum (Hagen in…”, 2026); (3) There is a lack of description of insect fossils from the Jiyuan Basin (“A new species of Proptychopterina (Diptera: Nematocera: Ptychopteridae) from…”, 2026); (4) Further study is needed to fully understand the characteristics of the amber from the Jiufengshan Formation (“Early Cretaceous amber from the Heibaoshan-Handaqi Basin, Heilongjiang…”, 2026); (5) Further study of the Kachin amber beetle fauna is needed to fully realize its potential for understanding beetle evolution and diversity (“The beetle fauna of mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber: a systematic synthesis”, 2026). 70 gap statements have been mined from Fossil Insects in Amber papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 304 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

Tools for your next paper

Gaps & Literature SearchFind open questions in any field — 120,000+ open gaps mined from our own library.Pre-CheckIs your paper ready? Acceptance odds for top, mid and open/emerging journals, in seconds.Journal FinderA ranked shortlist of target journals from a 17,500-venue index.Duplicate Publication CheckerCheck for prior publication across 7 sources and our local library.Citation GeneratorFreeA DOI or title → APA, MLA, Vancouver, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS. No signup.Graphical Abstract MakerFreeTurn your findings into a colorblind-safe graphical abstract.

How Pre-Check worksHow AI Review works

Compare the category — Honest roundups of the AI research tools, ours listed alongside the alternatives.

Command palette

Jump anywhere, run any action.