Insects...
Snapshots of life from millions of years ago are visible in amber found around the world, especially in the Baltic and the Dominican Republic. These beautiful jewels can contain bees, termites and ants frozen in time, trapped in the sticky plant resin eons ago. These amber inclusions enable scientists and researchers to study insects from millions of years ago, and help paint a picture of what life was like in these ancient landscapes.
While amber has been a desired jewel for thousands of years, avidly sought by collectors, the large number of insects trapped within has garnered serious scientific interest only in the last few decades, spawning books and even movies. These images in a microscope are not just fascinating; they can also be exquisitely beautiful works of art...
The intersection of art, science and technology…
All images Copyright 2012-2021 by Guy Iannuzzi
Red Sea, 2012
This ant is chewing on its last meal in a red ocean of Baltic amber.
A true wasp of the order Hymenoptera, Aculaeta, evolved from the Cretaceous…
Murder Scene,
Unknown, but evocative insect surrounded by blood-like droppings.
Possibly another lacewing fly (Diptera) of the family Neuroptera
The lower insect is a fungus gnat, Sciaroidea, Mycetophilidae sensu lato, and the upper one may be related to Psychodidae but may not belong to a living lineage
Identfication courtesy of John F. Carr, 6 March, 2012
A lacewing fly (Diptera) of the family Neuroptera in a Baltic amber pendant from Vilnius, Lithuania
Up from the Depths, 2010
A fungus gnat (sciaridae) rampant on a weevil (curculionidae)
An unknown insect. Is it a fly - order Diptera? or a moth order Lepidoptera?
Winged termite, Isoptera, with many smaller insects. Mating males are winged.
Armour, 2009
A weevil, a member of the most diverse order – Coleoptera (beetles)
The Martian, 2010
A caddisfly of the ancient order Tricoptera, whose ancestors first appeared during the Permian.
Frozen in Time
E-mail me Guy Iannuzzi at (guy@mentus.com)
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