Pleistocene grasshoppers, fleas, thrips, and mites: rare and new records from Arctic ground squirrel middens in east Beringia in Yukon Territory, Canada

Researchers have uncovered rare and novel records of Pleistocene grasshoppers, fleas, thrips, and mites from Arctic ground squirrel middens in the Tr’ondëk-Klondike region of Yukon Territory, Canada. These findings represent the first documented evidence of grasshoppers (Acrididae: Gomphocerinae) and thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from Beringia, a critical region for understanding Arctic biodiversity during the Pleistocene epoch. The study also contributes new records of fleas (Oropsylla alaskensis) and mites (Fusacarus Michael, cf. Haemogamasus Berlese), which are seldom reported in Quaternary deposits. By analyzing permafrost deposits spanning approximately 80,000 to 13,500 years BP, the research provides insights into the fossil history of these underrepresented invertebrate groups, expanding our understanding of Arctic ecosystems during this period.

Cocker, S. L., Proctor, H. C., Galloway, T. D., Miskelly, J., Jensen, B. J. L., & Froese, D. G. (2025). Pleistocene grasshoppers, fleas, thrips, and mites: rare and new records from Arctic ground squirrel middens in east Beringia in Yukon Territory, Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 157. https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2025.14