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Lot 8192¤

Mating Insects in Amber

3 December 2006, 11:00 PST
Los Angeles

Sold for US$1,195 inc. premium

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Mating Insects in Amber

Diptera Nematocera Scatopsidae
Oligocene
Dominican Republic

Preserved in a fine, crystal-clear yellow amber nugget, a pair of tiny black scavenger flies were caught “inflagrante delicto.” Insects found mating in amber are exceedingly rare, especially specimens as well preserved as the present specimens. These midges were scavengers whose larvae developed in decaying matter and formed huge clouds when they assembled for mating. The insects would remain “in copula” for hours, and were sometimes blown into sticky resin in the tropical Oligocene amber forest, where they would be preserved for eternity. Offered in a plastic magnifier box. Amber nugget measures 1in

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Without Reserve

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