Fossil Amber with Two Crickets, Many Nymphs & Spider

Without equivocation, this specimen of fossil amber is unique among thousands and thousands that I have examined. While no single inclusion is deemed extremely rare, the assemblage of inclusions is one I have never before observed. First there are two crickets (Orthoptera), either of which would be uncommon. Moreover, they are both nymph forms, at two different stages of development. Nymph does not mean small, as the larger more advanced cricket measures 12 mm with tail. Note that the least developed cricket appears threatened by a close-by spider, the spider possibly being the last thing young Jiminy saw.

The real uniqueness of the specimen is that the crickets are accompanied by a plethora of other nymph forms of insects, including three Homopterans at differing stages, a nymph cockroach (Blattodea), and even a baby beetle (Coleoptera). The insect menagerie rounds out with a bark louse, click beetle and some two-dozen various Dipterans and Hymenopterans of various sizes.