Superb Yixian Cicada Insect Fossil

Description: The Class Insecta is well represented in Liaoning and Hebei Provinces of China, with over 500 species referable to over 100 families based upon over 10,000 specimens. This fantastic diversity and exquisite detail is unprecedented throughout the world. The exact age of the Yixian Formation is still under debate, with some researchers favoring the Early Cretaceous, some the Late Jurassic, and still others the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary. This example is a fine cicada known as Liaocossus. Notice the great wings with color preserved in this large specimen.