Amber ant

Earlier images, not yet re-categorized. All subject types. Not for new images.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

Gordon C. Snelling
Posts: 300
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:13 pm
Location: California

Amber ant

Post by Gordon C. Snelling »

This Army ant preserved in amber was on loan to me from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. It is one of the very few fossilized/amber army ants known. It is Neivamyrmex ectopus.

Image

beetleman
Posts: 3578
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:19 am
Location: Southern New Hampshire USA

Post by beetleman »

very interesting Gordon. I have a few specimens of amber with insects, I don`t think I can get that close to them though..... :smt023
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda

MacroLuv
Posts: 1964
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:36 pm
Location: Croatia

Post by MacroLuv »

Wow! I would like to find something like that but don't know where to search. :mrgreen:
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.

P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome. :D

Gordon C. Snelling
Posts: 300
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:13 pm
Location: California

Post by Gordon C. Snelling »

Thanks folks. About the only way to get specimens like this is to search for individuals selling amber with inclusions. Unfortunately you have be very careful as there is a lot of fake material out there. I was lucky in this case as the specimen came from a museum.

crocoite
Posts: 297
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 3:38 am

Post by crocoite »

Gordon C. Snelling wrote:Thanks folks. About the only way to get specimens like this is to search for individuals selling amber with inclusions. Unfortunately you have be very careful as there is a lot of fake material out there.
Agreed Gordon. There are many reputable dealers around but also unscrupulous ones too. Stay away from eBay for example.

Also, there are insects in amber, and insects in copal, a related, but much younger resin.

Here was one I posted a while back http://www.photomacrography1.net/forum/ ... php?t=4884

Mike B in OKlahoma
Posts: 1048
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:32 pm
Location: Oklahoma City

Post by Mike B in OKlahoma »

Very cool. Amazing that this has been preserved. Any idea how old she is?
Mike Broderick
Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Constructive critiques of my pictures, and reposts in this forum for purposes of critique are welcome

"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul....My mandate includes weird bugs."
--Calvin

Gordon C. Snelling
Posts: 300
Joined: Sun Aug 13, 2006 3:13 pm
Location: California

Post by Gordon C. Snelling »

At this point I have no clue as to the age of this specimen. I recall a recent incident ay the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. The head of the entomology dept was loking thru amber with the thought of purchasing some for the museum. One of the specimens was an ant, however when ever you moved the piece, you could clearly see an air bubble moving in the ants gaster (abdomen). Needless to say they passed on it.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic