Name: Fossil
Amber Insects:
Diptera, Family Ceratopogonidae
Age: Upper
Eocene - Lower Oligocene
Size: (25.4mm=1
inch): Amber: 29 mm long , 17 mm across , 3.2 grams. Inclusions: 1mm
Location:
Kaliningrad District, Russia
| Description: This amber piece displays a number
of examples of the Diptera. Biting Midges are also known as Punkies.
Modern-day examples are called No-See-Ums due to their minute size.
They pack a powerful bite, however, and can be quite pesky. The
term Diptera means “two-winged” and is actually a misnomer.
Most members have a second, vestigial pair of wings that are mere
knobs which are used as a “gyroscope” to keep the insect
level in flight. This larger Baltic amber specimen holds a swarm
of five of these pesky midges, and uncommon multiple.
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