|
 This
is truly an exceptional amber specimen that at once meets the criteria
that I apply for "Ecosystem Specimens"; "Trophy Insect
Inclusions" (there are several exceptional insect inclusions);
and "Extremely Rare", in the form of the Assassin bug.
Besides the assassin bug, there are 9 Alates (and the discarded
wings of others), the winged, sexual form of Isoptera, the termite,
two exotic beetles (Coleoptera), one a colorful firefly, 3 spiders
and some dozen other flies and gnats (Diptera)
Regarding the
Assassin bug, as a Hemipteran (the true bugs), Suborder:
Heteroptera; Family: Reduviidae, it is part of a diverse insect
order that appeared in Upper Pennsylvannian-time. There are some
80,000 extant species. Hemipterans have piercing and sucking mouthparts
that form an articulated beak. The two pair of wings are hardened
near the body, but membranous towards the ends. While most are herbivores,
some are predators, such as bedbugs. An assassin bug in Latin America
is a vector for the protozoan causing sleeping sickness that kills
many people each year. This well-preserved, 5 mm long, Reduviidae,
is also called a resin bug, a name given them due to their habit
of lurking around resin deposits lying in wait for their favorite
prey: stingless bees. The bees come to the resin to gather samples
that are used in construction of their nests. The assassin bugs
often will attach some sticky resin to their forelegs much as a
wide receiver will apply "stickum" to catch a football.
Among insect predators, Assassin bugs rank well with Mantids and
spiders, as the primordial predator and prey dance has persisted
over geologic time.
 Flying
termites, or Alates, are the sexual form of termites that swarm
from the colony in huge numbers to fly weakly to a new site to form
another colony, where they soon shed their wings and set up housekeeping.
Modern-day termites time the emergence of all colonies in a region
to swamp the predators, giving at least a few the opportunity to
found new colonies. There are many different pictures of Alates
in the gallery below, simply because they are so awesomely beautiful.
The delicate wings of the Alates are quite reflective, and seem
to fluoresce in impinging light.
Besides the
assassin bug, the amber contains other predators in the form of
three spiders.
This specimen
is awesome to look at with the naked eye, and ever more thrilling
through a jewelers loupe. It's a big piece of amber measuring almost
3 inches across - easily the centerpiece of an amber collection.
Don't miss the
many more pictures below.
|
