Amber Encyclopedia Entry #6: Cretaceous Mosquito in Burmese Amber Silver Ring

This striking Burmese amber specimen features a Cretaceous-era mosquito with fully preserved wings, legs, and proboscis — now set into a wearable silver ring. A rare example of museum-grade amber jewelry that combines natural history with timeless design.

Cretaceous mosquito fossil preserved inside clear Burmese amber, set in a silver ring

Specimen Overview:

This amber ring holds more than just beauty — it holds deep time. Inside the polished Burmese amber lies a remarkably preserved mosquito (family: Culicidae), dating back approximately 99 million years to the mid-Cretaceous period.

The specimen showcases diagnostic features:

• Elongated proboscis used for piercing

• Long, slender legs typical of mosquitoes

• Clearly segmented antennae

• Delicate wing venation, a key feature used in taxonomic identification

The clarity of the amber and the position of the insect allow for excellent visibility under magnification, making it suitable for both scientific observation and display.

Amber Provenance:

• Locality: Hukawng Valley, Kachin State, northern Myanmar (Burma)

• Age: Approximately 99 million years (mid-Cretaceous)

• Amber Type: Burmese amber (also known as Burmite)

Scientific Context:

Cretaceous mosquitoes are important to the study of blood-feeding insect evolution. While the preservation of DNA in amber remains unlikely, inclusions like this provide valuable insight into ancient ecosystems and the early history of parasitic behavior.

Burmese amber is among the oldest and most scientifically significant fossil resins on Earth. It is renowned for preserving even the most delicate anatomical details, making it a major resource for paleontology.

Ring and Setting Details:

This fossil has been mounted in a handcrafted silver ring, transforming a scientifically valuable specimen into a wearable artifact. While most pieces of this quality are kept in collections, this example demonstrates the intersection of paleontology and jewelry design.

This isn't just jewelry — it's a museum-grade amber fossil you can wear.

Shop link:

https://www.amberbugs.com/product-page/burmese-amber-insect-silver-ring-mosquito-in-burmese-amber

Related Amber Encyclopedia Entries:

• Feather in Burmese Amber

• Scorpion in Amber

• Enhydro Bubbles in Amber

Suggested Citation:AmberBugs.com. (2025). Cretaceous Mosquito Preserved in Burmese Amber Ring. Amber Encyclopedia Entry #6. Retrieved from https://www.amberbugs.com/encyclopedia/mosquito-in-amber-ring