Scientists have discovered prehistoric insects preserved in amber in South America for the first time. This amber was found at a quarry in Ecuador and contains ancient insects, pollen, and tree leaves dating back 112 million years. The findings offer insights into life on Earth just when flowering plants began spreading and diversifying. Most known amber deposits from the past 130 million years are in the Northern Hemisphere, making this discovery significant. Researchers will continue to analyze the amber to learn more about ancient beetles, flies, ants, and wasps. The study was published Thursday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.
Discovery of insects trapped in amber sheds light on ancient Amazon rainforest
