Myanmar Amber ([Unnamed Fm.], 99.34-98.10 Ma)

Coleoptera with exuded gas bubbles; these are likely methane, and could be the by-product of methanogenic bacteria inside a xylophagous (wood-eating) species. Some adult members of the Cetoniinae subfamily (family: Scarabaeidae) are xylophagous and known to produce methane; while this is known from Recent species, it's possible such characteristics could be found in extinct members of the Scarabaeidae or Scarabaeoidea (superfamily). This inclusion is contained in the same specimen depicting pholadid crypts. Provenance of specimen is Tanai Township, Myitkyina District, Myanmar. This image was captured using a HAYEAR HY-1070 microscope.