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Name:
Parasitic Mites on a Midge
Age: Eocene
Formation: Amber Deposits
Location: Baltic Coast, Russia
Size: Amber Piece is 0.9 inches long
This fossil is a very rare glimpse into ancient Parasitic behaviour. This is a large True Midge giving a ride to TWO Parasitic Mites (Acari). This activity was all captured in this chunk of Baltic Amber. You can easily see the phoretic Mites attached to the body of the Midge. The Mites would then feed on the life juices of the host fly. This is an uncommon occurrence in the fossil record, and an example this dramatic is extremely rare. This is an excellent example of parasitic behaviour that is 50 Million Years Old.
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