This a BEAUTIFUL gem quality piece of amber with a Mantis Nymph (Juvenile Praying Mantis) and a Diptera (fly like insect) from the late Cretaceous of Myanmar! The Mantis shows incredible preservation with fantastic antennae and eyes, articulated legs and arms! It comes in a floating frame with a stand, blown up pictures of the inclusions, and detailed information for easy transport and a beautiful display! The amber's dimensions measure 20.85 x 9.6 x 2.68 millimeters and weighs .34 grams! the amber has excellent clarity and a beautiful light citrine color!
Mantis (order Mantodea) are an order of insects that first evolved 145 million years ago. These predatory insects are found all in temperate and tropical habitats all over the world. Their most infamous features are their long spiked forelimbs used to catch prey, lightning fast movements combined with stealthy camouflage, and the tendency of some females to bite the males head off after mating.
Amber is petrified tree resin (not sap, resin is much thicker). It forms when trees secrete resin, and the resin is quickly washed away by water and deposited in a lake where it is covered by sediment (if the resin isn’t washed away it decomposes or gets eaten). Along the way, small particles of dust, bits of plant material, and even small animals like insects and lizards can become trapped in the resin which hardens and preserves whatever is trapped within (aka inclusions). Myanmar amber, also known as Burmite, is world renowned gem quality amber known for excellent inclusions of insects, plants, and even small vertebrates! The preservation in amber can be so good it inspired a major portion of Jurassic Park, where blood sucking insects trapped in amber provided the DNA needed to clone dinosaurs! While the science of cloning dinosaurs from amber is, for better or worse, not a reality the pristine fossils of small animals that are rarely fossilized in any other way is very real! Makes for a terrific addition to any fossil collection or even a gem for high end jewelry!
Fake Amber is a plague on the fossil market, this piece has been tested to guarantee authenticity!
I do combined shipping upon request.
All my items come with a Certificate of Authenticity!
Inclusions: Juvenile Praying Mantis and Winged Insect
Size: 20.85 x 9.6 x 2.68 millimeters and weighs .34 grams
Clarity: Excellent
Color: Light Citrine
Found: Hukawng Valley, Myanmar
Age: 99 million years old
Alteration: polished