Scientists discover remains of ancient insects in 112-million-year-old amber

A team of researchers has discovered the first South American amber deposit, in which ancient insects are still preserved after 112 million years.

According to the fascinating study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the scientists’ discovery provides a living picture of a 112-million-year-old forest that once existed on the ancient supercontinent Gondwana (Africa, Oceania, South America, Antarctica, and parts of the Indian Peninsula today).

The discovery will also provide scientists with new information about the forgotten ecosystems of that era.

Ancient samples of amber (fossilized tree resin) sometimes contain the remains of plants or animals that were trapped in them millions of years ago and can provide us with a wealth of information. Until now, almost all significant amber deposits have been found in the Northern Hemisphere, and because of this, scientists’ understanding of the ecosystems of the Southern Hemisphere when the continents separated from Gondwana has remained very limited.

To investigate, researcher Javier Delclas and his team examined amber samples and surrounding rocks from the Xenoveva mine in Ecuador. The researchers say the amber is about 112 million years old and comes from a sedimentary layer called the Hollín Formation, which extends across the eastern basin of Ecuador.

The researchers identified two types of amber in the area. One formed underground near the roots of gum-producing plants, and the other formed in the open air. Of the 60 samples of the latter, 21 contained the remains of organisms that included five orders of insects.

Among the ancient remains discovered in them are Diptera (flies), Cymboptera (beetles) and Hymenoptera (a group that includes ants and wasps) along with a piece of spider web. In addition, the rocks surrounding the amber also contained plant fossils such as spores, pollen grains and other plant remains.

According to the researchers, the characteristics of the fossils indicate that this amber originated from a warm and humid forest with dense vegetation and gum-bearing trees in southern Gondwana. They emphasize that this rare find is a unique source for a better understanding of life and biodiversity on Earth during one of the key periods in its history.

Source: Digiato - Javad Taji