We describe an early angiosperm and a leaf mine ichnofossil from the Lower Cretaceous Potomac Group of Virginia, USA. The descriptions are based on a fossil leaf that was first reported in 1895 but identified as a fragment of a fossil fern. Leaf architectural features and sedimentological context indicate that this leaf was produced by an herbaceous eudicot angiosperm, possibly associated with Ranunculales. The leaf mine is a full depth linear-blotch mine with frass, a trace of puparium inside the blotch mine section, and feeding/oviposition-related puncture marks. The features of the mine are most consistent with those produced by agromyzid flies. This fossil extends the record of agromyzid flies by about 40 million years ago. This fossil provides evidence that agromyzid flies or their ancestors were feeding on herbaceous basal eudicots similar to modern herbaceous ranunculids during the Early Cretaceous, prior to the appearance and diversification of asterids. Our finding contradicts the previous hypotheses on the dipteran radiations associated with the past environmental changes. Insect feeding damages remained in fossilized leaves are currently considered as an important source for climate change studies. We review progresses in the study of the insect feeding trace fossils and their usefulness for monitoring environmental changes.

• Jae-Cheon Sohn(Department of Environmental Education, Mokpo National University, Jeonnam, South Korea)
• Nathan A. Jud(Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA)
• Sei-Woong Choi(Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA)
• Conrad Labandeira(Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC., USA)