Tag Archives: fossil insects

More Eocene insects

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Most of the Green River Formation (GRF) insect fossils that I have on loan clearly represent either beetles (order Coleoptera) or flies (order Diptera). I’ve already shown a few of the latter (fungus gnat, midge), as well as some that … Continue reading →

Posted in Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A 50-million-year-old midge

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Several of the insect fossils collected from the Green River Formation (45–50 mya) that I am photographing appear to be flies, and specifically members of the “primitive” suborder Nematocera. This is not surprising, as the G.R. Formation of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chironomidae, Diptera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An elegant Eocene fly

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

Here is one of the more elegantly preserved specimens among the collection of Green River Formation fossil insects that I am photographing. It is obviously a fly (order Diptera), but I don’t agree with the preliminary identification of “Mosquito?” as indicated … Continue reading →

Posted in Diptera, Mycetophilidae, Sciaridae | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Beetle, orthop or something else?

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I had such helpful participation with my first fossil ID request that I thought I would go to the well again. This one is not so enigmatic as the first—it is clearly an insect, but it’s the only insect fossil among … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Spider, insect or something else?

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Ted C. MacRae

I recently received a batch of fossil insects from a local fossil collector, who is hoping that I and other local entomologists will be able to provide some level of identification beyond just “insect.” All are from the Green River Formation, … Continue reading →

Posted in [No taxon] | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments