Fossil Amber Ecosystem - Predator and Prey

This amber ecosystem has captured in suspended animation the drama that has repeated over all of geologic time since life appeared on earth - predator and prey. The cast of characters two dozen insects and two spiders. The first sequence of pictures shows a fierce, unidentified insect appearing to have pounced of a Dipteran, with a Stingless bee looking on. The next sequence of pictures amaze me. Here, the spider is proximal to what apparently is its web, with a dissicated carcass still on board, its no-empty egg case, and the harder body parts of past meals. This association, while conjecture, is entirely plausible. Then, a second spider appears to be confronting face on, another Dipteran. This piece is also a mini bee hive with 11 stingless bees; there is a similar number of various Dipterans, and there is a nice weevil.

The more you look at this specimen under a loupe, the more facinating it becomes.