A Parasitic Wasp Frozen in Time: Burmese Amber with Cretaceous Insects

Parasitic wasp in Burmese amber

This remarkable specimen showcases a Cretaceous-era parasitic wasp, preserved in Burmese amber for nearly 100 million years. Identified by its long antennae and slender body, it likely belongs to the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which includes some of the most ecologically complex wasps on Earth.

Burmese amber, also known as Myanmar amber, originates from the Hukawng Valley and dates to the early Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous (~99 million years ago). It is globally recognized for its exceptional preservation of insects, including parasitic wasps, beetles, flies, and even vertebrate material.

Parasitic wasps like the one shown here are part of a fascinating lineage known for laying their eggs inside other insects. Their presence in the fossil record helps scientists trace the co-evolution of predator-prey and parasite-host dynamics.

This piece is part of our ongoing effort to photograph and document museum-grade Burmese amber specimens in private collections. For a detailed overview of insect taxa found in Myanmar amber, see the Wikipedia list of Burmese amber insects or Ross (2024).

Specimen Info:

– Taxon: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea

– Inclusion: Parasitic wasp

– Age: ~99 million years

– Origin: Hukawng Valley, Kachin State, Myanmar

– Preservation: Fully visible, dorsal orientation, excellent antenna detail