Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Fossils
 Two diptera in Dominican amber
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| devikke |
Posted on 12-08-2015 10:53
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Member Location: Posts: 1 Joined: 11.08.15 |
As I am new here, I would like to introduce myself. I am partner of a large international research project on the tradition of European lacquers from the 17th century until the 20th century onwards. We, the University of Antwerp (Belgium, BE) are working in close collaboration with our partners, such as the Royal Museums of Art and History (BE), the Royal Institute of Cultural Heritage (BE) and the Getty Conservation Institute (US). More information about this project can be found on our website: org.kikirpa.be/el... One aspect of my doctoral research is to obtain technological and methodological information based on historical literature. To do so, we need the right ingredients (gums, resins, oils, etc.). It appears that in the 17th and 18th century one of the most important resins was called ‘gum animé’ which presumably is resin which came from the tree species Hymenea courbaril (South and Central America). This resin is hard to find nowadays however, I have managed to receive several samples of (semi)fossilised (?) ground deposits. Since adulteration and fraud is very common in the natural resin trade and industry, I was wondering whether the origin (broad region, continent) and dating of the resin could be determined by identifying the insects trapped in the resin sample? Since the paleoentomology is a vast study, I was wondering whether someone could confirm my first observations: PHOTO 1: https://flic.kr/p... (high resolution, zoom as you like. You can download the original file by clicking on the download icon of Flickr, right corner). OBSERVATION: I think this is a stingless bee often (Proplebeia dominica?) found in Dominican amber from the period Miocene (Burdigalian, 20-15 million years old) PHOTO 2: https://flic.kr/p... (high resolution, zoom as you like. You can download the original file by clicking on the download icon of Flickr, right corner). OBSERVATION: I think this is a mosquito (Culicidae) but I'm having many difficulties in determining which species it is since I get lost in the anatomical characteristics. Thank you in advance. Vincent Edited by devikke on 12-08-2015 10:59 |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 12-08-2015 11:13
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 Super Administrator Location: Netherlands Posts: 19403 Joined: 11.05.04 |
I would concur with the first observation. The second to me seems to be a sciarid fly, a common group among inclusions from all amber deposits.
Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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