Can you identify this prehistoric insect?
November 20, 2014 7:59 PM Subscribe
I have a large piece of amber with a couple of tiny insects embedded in it. Can anyone identify this one? It's tiny--probably less than 2mm long.
Looks like a skeeter to me, too. (Click on the "images" link if it's not open.)
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:16 PM on November 20, 2014
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:16 PM on November 20, 2014
Definitely mosquito. Now go and make a dinosaur.
posted by Koko at 8:50 PM on November 20, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by Koko at 8:50 PM on November 20, 2014 [7 favorites]
That looks like you popped it under a light microscope and took a pic of it through the eyepiece, heh...
Those do look like mosquitoes, but are you sure it's prehistoric - in other words, have you verified that it's true amber? I don't see a lot of plant material in there. Amber inclusions are one of the easiest "fossils" to fake.
If you haven't, the least destructive method I know of is to place it in a salt water solution - 23 grams of salt per into 200 ml of warm water. (Or less specific, about 2 cups warm water per 1/4 cup salt, depending on how large your piece is.) Amber and a younger kind of resin called copal (which is also used to fake amber) will float.(The copal will float only if it's all copal and hasn't been altered with plastics and resins.) A frequent test of amber and copal is static electricity - amber gets charged much more quickly and will attract lint quite easily once rubbed. Another test is to place a small drop of solvent like acetone in a non-visible place, if possible. Copal and other plastics will become tacky to the touch. A hot needle is also often used - both the melting point and the fumes will differ, with amber more smoky and resin smelling.
posted by barchan at 8:52 PM on November 20, 2014 [4 favorites]
Those do look like mosquitoes, but are you sure it's prehistoric - in other words, have you verified that it's true amber? I don't see a lot of plant material in there. Amber inclusions are one of the easiest "fossils" to fake.
If you haven't, the least destructive method I know of is to place it in a salt water solution - 23 grams of salt per into 200 ml of warm water. (Or less specific, about 2 cups warm water per 1/4 cup salt, depending on how large your piece is.) Amber and a younger kind of resin called copal (which is also used to fake amber) will float.(The copal will float only if it's all copal and hasn't been altered with plastics and resins.) A frequent test of amber and copal is static electricity - amber gets charged much more quickly and will attract lint quite easily once rubbed. Another test is to place a small drop of solvent like acetone in a non-visible place, if possible. Copal and other plastics will become tacky to the touch. A hot needle is also often used - both the melting point and the fumes will differ, with amber more smoky and resin smelling.
posted by barchan at 8:52 PM on November 20, 2014 [4 favorites]
I was gonna say it looks like a midge
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:59 PM on November 20, 2014
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:59 PM on November 20, 2014
I would go as far as to say it looks like a modern mosquito.
posted by Splunge at 10:55 AM on November 21, 2014
posted by Splunge at 10:55 AM on November 21, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sexyrobot at 8:07 PM on November 20, 2014