Tag Archives: fossil insects

More Eocene insects

Posted on December 28, 2012 by

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

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

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

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

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 , , , , , , | 20 Comments