Mayfly
Insect Fossil
Class
Insecta: Insect Order Ephemeroptera
Geological
Time: Lower Cretaceous (~125 m.y.a.)
Size: 22
mm
Fossil Site:
Yixian Formation, Chao Yang, Liaoning
Province of China
| Class
Insecta is diversely represented in Liaoning and Hebei Provinces of
China, with over 500 species referable to over 100 families based
upon over 10,000 specimens. This fantastic diversity and exquisite
detail is unprecedented throughout the world. This fossil insect is
a large Mayfly preserved in ventral view. These are more commonly
seen as larvae. Modern-day Mayflies emerge from the aquatic homes
after metamorphosis, and live only a short while before dying, making
this one an uncommon specimen. Notice the many freshwater clams that
are indicative of the environment in which these insects lived. |
|
