Large Yixian Lacewing Insect Fossil

Description: The Class Insecta is well 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. The exact age of the Yixian Formation is still under debate, with some researchers favoring the Early Cretaceous, some the Late Jurassic, and still others the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary. This example is a fine Lacewing known as Kalligramma liaoningensis. The lacewings derive their common name from their diaphanous wings with delicate venation. Some fossil members of the family have been mistaken for butterflies, and another member of the genus found at Solnhofen was quite large.