biostudies-literatureAdroit BStrategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Natural Science Foundation of China201449https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7657907biostudies-literatureUnknown7(10)Interactions between plants and insects evolved during millions of years of coevolution and maintain the trophic balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Documenting insect damage types (DT) on fossil leaves is essential for understanding the evolution of plant-insect interactions and for understanding the effects of major environmental changes on ecosystem structure. However, research focusing on palaeoherbivory is still sparse and only a tiny fraction of fossil leaf collections have been analysed. This study documents a type of insect damage found exclusively on the leaves of <i>Parrotia</i> species (Hamamelidaceae). This DT was identified on <i>Parrotia</i> leaves from Willershausen (Germany, Pliocene) and from Shanwang (China, Miocene) and on their respective endemic modern relatives: <i>ParRoyal Society open scienceA case of long-term herbivory: specialized feeding trace on <i>Parrotia</i> (Hamamelidaceae) plant species.PMC765790741688103XDB26000000Terral JFWang BZhuang XAdroit BWappler TfalseA case of long-term herbivory: specialized feeding trace on <i>Parrotia</i> (Hamamelidaceae) plant species.Interactions between plants and insects evolved during millions of years of coevolution and maintain the trophic balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Documenting insect damage types (DT) on fossil leaves is essential for understanding the evolution of plant-insect interactions and for understanding the effects of major environmental changes on ecosystem structure. However, research focusing on palaeoherbivory is still sparse and only a tiny fraction of fossil leaf collections have been analysed. This study documents a type of insect damage found exclusively on the leaves of <i>Parrotia</i> species (Hamamelidaceae). This DT was identified on <i>Parrotia</i> leaves from Willershausen (Germany, Pliocene) and from Shanwang (China, Miocene) and on their respective endemic modern relatives: <i>Par2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Oct2026-07-16T07:14:05.126Z2020-11-22T09:40:28ZS-EPMC76579073320448210.1098/rsos.201449