Fossil
Amber with Lacewing, Bristletail, and Beetle Inclusions
Crocidae
indet
Class Insecta, Order Neuroptera, Family Crocidae (previously Subfamily
Crocinae)
Aff Cretalepisma
kachinicum
Class: Insecta, Order Archaeognatha
Coleoptera
indet
Class Insecta, Order Coleoptera
Geological
Time: Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian Stage (~100 million years ago)
Sizes: Amber:
13 mm long , 7 mm across , Inclusions: Lacewing: 11 Bristletail: 9
mm (overall) Beetle: 2mm
Fossil Site:
Hukawng Valley, Kachin State, Myanmar
Code: MYA13
Price: $995.00
|  Description:
This plaque of amber displays an association whose most distinctive
inclusion is an unusual larval form of a thread-winged lacewing
of the family Crocidae. Until recently these were assigned to
the family Nemopteridae as a subfamily (Crocinae) but have been
judged sufficiently different to rate their own family. Note
the long cervical  region that has earned extant examples the
colloquial name “violin larva”. These larvae are
ambush predators and sometimes bury themselves in detritus. The
elongation gives them a chance to have the body more unobtrusive.
Ants are a presumed prey species. The next inclusion is a fine
example of the Archaeognatha (Bristletails). While several are
known from the region, this one is most like the genus Cretalepisma.
The Bristletails have been extant since the Devonian, and are
little changed in all that time. This one is seen with a tiny
2 mm beetle, making for a fine example of the diverse life from
some 100 million years ago during the dinosaur era.
Reference:
AMNH Novitates, No. 3361, Mar 26, 2002.
Also
see: Cretaceous
Jersimantis luzzii praying mantis in amber from New Jersey and Cretaceous
Praying Mantis in Fossil Amber from Hukawng Valley |
|
