Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Fossils
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 fly in amber (?)
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| Di-dier |
Posted on 15-12-2008 21:24
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 Member Location: Bruxelles Posts: 45 Joined: 05.03.07 |
hello all! Here is a fly in an alleged baltic amber. The stone is sell on ebay. I tried to find an illustration of this shape of antenna in my books without success. Any idea of the family? Another question: It might be a fake amber or a fake inclusion in amber. I will find out when I will get it and show to a specialist!! Here is the question: Are flies in baltic amber so rare that it is tempting to produce fake inclusions of flies? |
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| Andrius |
Posted on 15-12-2008 21:50
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Member Location: Lithuania Posts: 315 Joined: 27.01.05 |
Still no photo attached... Maybe your file is too big or something else is wrong with it?  Concerning the rarity of flies - there are lots of Dolichopodidae, Empididae as welll as representatives of other families of flies in Baltic amber, so basically there is no need to make fake inclusions. On the other hand, there are only several genuine inclusions with lizards or pieces of frogs, so such kind of fakes would be more expedient I don't believe it is possible to make a fake inclusion with fly that would fool a specialist of that family. |
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| Di-dier |
Posted on 18-12-2008 18:41
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Member Location: Bruxelles Posts: 45 Joined: 05.03.07 |
I can't attach the picture. Here is the link. Note the unusual shape of antenna http://picasaweb.google.com/succinium/FossilAmber75127739#5270276786606696402 |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 18-12-2008 19:23
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 Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7232 Joined: 19.11.04 |
It is Dolichopodidae. Igor may recognise the genus - it's worth changing the title of the thread to include Dolichopodidae to attract his attention. I think you are right to be cautious about whether it is a fake. It's difficult to be sure when looking at a picture, but the fact that the thoracic bristles have been displaced forwards makes me suspicious of this one. Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Di-dier |
Posted on 19-12-2008 15:37
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Member Location: Bruxelles Posts: 45 Joined: 05.03.07 |
Couldn't it happen when the fly tried to extract himself from the resin? |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 19-12-2008 16:25
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 Super Administrator Location: Netherlands Posts: 19363 Joined: 11.05.04 |
Looks like a genuine enough Dolichopodidae to me. Distortion like that, of seta being bent in unnatural positions, can occur when force is applied to the resin before it is completely hardened. Similarly, pressure on the resin can cause fractures in the stone (like can be seen in the picture) but it can also result in specimens appearing to be completely shattered and put together again like a jigsaw puzzle.
Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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| Di-dier |
Posted on 21-12-2008 17:22
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Member Location: Bruxelles Posts: 45 Joined: 05.03.07 |
thank you for your help! |
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