The Discovery
A research team led by scientist Xavier Delclòs has uncovered an extraordinary collection of ancient insects trapped in amber in eastern Ecuador. Located at the Genoveva quarry in the Napo region, this site represents the largest known amber deposit from its era in South America. Dating back roughly 112 million years to the Cretaceous period, the fossilized resin offers a rare glimpse into a tropical forest ecosystem from the age of the dinosaurs. The study was published in the journal Nature.
What Scientists Found
Using advanced tools such as infrared spectroscopy, researchers analyzed 21 fossilized inclusions preserved within resin produced by extinct trees related to the Araucariaceae family of conifers. Although oil in the surrounding rocks slightly altered the resin's chemical signals, the trapped specimens remained in remarkable condition.
The organisms identified inside the amber include:
- Flies, particularly biting and non-biting midges, as well as long-legged flies.
- Beetles, whiteflies, and small parasitic wasps.
- A piece of a spider web.
- Insects with aquatic young, such as caddisflies and chironomid flies.
Fossilized pollen and plant remains from the site show a forest dominated by ferns and conifers, alongside some of the earliest flowering plant leaves recorded in this region of South America. The presence of aquatic insects, combined with minimal evidence of fungal decay or wildfires, indicates a wet, humid climate with nearby bodies of water like rivers or ponds.
Why It Matters
Fossil-rich amber is frequently found in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is far rarer in the south. This discovery at the Genoveva quarry fills an important gap in understanding prehistoric life on the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. It provides a baseline to compare South American insect evolution with regions that later became Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
Additionally, one discovered fly species closely resembles an ancient insect previously found in amber from Lebanon, demonstrating how species distributed across distant landmasses millions of years ago. Scientists plan to conduct further excavations in the area to gather more details about life during the Cretaceous Resinous Interval.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published October 08, 2026 · Photo by sofia inductgroup on Unsplash