In Depth First discussed by Grimaldi et al in 2002 and again by Grimaldi and Engel in 2005, this little wasp preserved in amber was finally given its own genus in 2006. The holotype specimen (AMNH Bu-051) is the exoskeleton of a female wasp encased in amber, and is preserved well enough to identify it … Read more
In Depth Eriocampa is a genus of sawfly that is still alive today, but is also known from several extinct species that seem to have been common in North America during the Eocene, though one species, E. oligocenica, is recorded as being alive during the Oligocene of France. At the time of writing there are … Read more
In Depth Palaeovespa is a genus of wasp that lived at least from the end of the Paleocene to the end of the Eocene. Palaeovespa is noted for its similarity to the modern day genus Vespa, hence the name Palaeovespa which means ‘old Vespa’. However the wing structure of Palaeovespa leaves no doubt that it … Read more
In Depth Pseudosiobla is a genus of extinct sawfly that lived in North America during the Eocene. Further Reading - Some fossil arthropods from Florissant, Colorado. - Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 23:605-616. - T. D. A. Cockerell - 1907. - New Phytophagous Hymenoptera from the Tertiary of Florissant, Colorado. - Bulletin … Read more
In Depth Further Reading - Revision of fossil species of Dryinus belonging to lamellatus group, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) 130: 505–514. - Massimo Olmi & Adalgisa Guglielmino - 2011.
In Depth Protostephanus is a species of crown wasp that lived in North America during the late Eocene. The genus is based upon a partially preserved individual preserved in volcanic ash. This individual is speculated to be female to the presence of what seems to be a partially preserved ovipositor (egg laying organ). Further Reading … Read more