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Showing results for tags 'midge'.
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Question regarding differentiating mosquitos, gnats, midges etc. in Burmese amber
Vytis posted a topic in Questions & Answers
I was wondering is there any way to determine the differences between these insects in Burmese amber? Is there anything different in comparison to their modern counterparts? I am looking into getting a mosquito, but midges look almost identical with the exception of the proboscis.- 3 replies
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Burmite Cretaceous Soft Tissue: Remarkable preservation of Dipteran Indirect Flight Muscles
Biotalker posted a topic in General Fossil Discussion
Here is a Cretaceous Burmite Midge that appears to show preservation of the indirect flight muscles in one hemithorax. Indirect flight muscles distort the thorax cuticle from the inside to indirectly move the insect’s wings and power flight. While this level of microscopy cannot prove the tissue is muscle, it seems likely that the two sets of power muscles for flight are visible in this fossil: six dorsolongitudinal muscles (DLM) and six dorsoventral muscles (DVM). There are smaller muscles that play a role in guidance and directional movement that may be present but cannot be unambiguously determined without better tools. This midge is on the surface of the amber on its mid-sagittal plane with half of the insect gone.- 11 replies
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Last year, I went to a gem & mineral show and (among other things) acquired this piece of amber. The seller assured me that it was amber (not copal), but he didn't know where it was from or how old it was. I examined the piece (and several others) with my loupe before choosing this one, based of the number and variety of bugs in it. I have several spiders, a couple of ants, some mosquitos (one with an engorged gut if I'm not mistaken in the ID), a beetle, and at least one midge, plus a couple of things I can't identify. My best guess at origin is Burmese. Under a desk lamp: Backlit by my laptop screen: Detailed closeups next!