Fossil
Amber Crane Fly (Tipulidae)
Class Insecta,
Order Diptera, Family Tipulidae
Geological
Time: Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian Stage (~100 million years ago)
Size: Amber:
16 mm long , 13 mm across Inclusion: 7 mm with 6 mm wings
Fossil Site:
Hukawng Valley, Kachin State, Myanmar
Code: MYA18
Price: Sold
|  Description:
This plaque of amber displays one of the ultimate survivors of the
insect world: a crane fly, presumably of the family Tipulidae. The
name Diptera is actually a misnomer. While the name means “two
winged”, Diptera actually possess two pairs of wings, but
the anterior pair is vestigial, and known as the halteres. These
flap opposite to the main wings, serving as a form of gyroscope
to aid in level flight. This is amazingly well preserved, and comes
from the Late Cretaceous Burmite deposits of Myanmar.
Also
see: Cretaceous
Jersimantis luzzii praying mantis in amber and Pseudoscorpion
in Cretaceous Fossil Amber and Centipede
in Cretaceous Amber
Reference:
AMNH Novitates, No. 3361, Mar 26, 2002. |
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