Rare Insects in Amber, Jewelry Unboxings, and One Incredible Mantis Fossil

Ryan Zschomler
Jun 22
3 min read

Updated: Jun 24

Tiktok (@amber bugs) Livestream Recap – June 2025

🦖 Shop Insects in Amber ➤ AmberBugs.comEthically sourced Dominican & Myanmar amber with real fossil inclusions.

🗨️ Q&A with Ryan – Amber Livestream Highlights

Q: What kind of amber did you showcase in this livestream? We started with Dominican amber—renowned for its crystal clarity and vibrant yellow hue. At just $90 apiece, collectors picked up pieces containing ants, termites, mosquitoes, plant hoppers, and even entire insect swarms preserved for over 20 million years.

We later unveiled Cretaceous Myanmar amber—100 million years old, from the time of the dinosaurs—with rare and large inclusions like beetles, spiders, and a fossil mantis that blew everyone away.

Praying Mantis in Dominican AMber — Mantis in Dominican Amber

Q: What was the most exciting fossil inclusion of the night?Without a doubt, it was the possible mantis in Myanmar amber. With its extended forearms and distinct head shape, it appeared to be a juvenile mantis—a true “holy grail” fossil. This was paired with possible spider webbing and coprolite, making it an unusually rich snapshot of prehistoric life.

Q: Did any customers find surprises in their amber?Yes! We discussed how many buyers discover extra inclusions once they receive their specimens. In fact, one customer recently found a baby scorpion inside a piece I’d missed. Another identified a millipede, and someone may have scored a mosquito laying eggs—a first in my 7+ years of collecting.

Q: What educational material did you show?We featured one of our amber posters explaining color formation:

Blue amber from forest fire exposure
Green amber from saplings
Root amber made underground
ENHYDRO amber with fossilized water bubbles

You can buy these educational posters for just $16 on AmberBugs.com!

Q: Any tips for new collectors polishing raw amber?Absolutely. Many clients polish raw Baltic amber at home and uncover fossils themselves. We walked through a wet sanding process using progressively finer sandpapers, finishing with car wax or polishing compounds. Several viewers shared their setups, from cerium oxide to denim-buffed finishes.

Insect silhouette against a bright yellow circular background, creating a warm and minimalist ambiance.

Q: What else was available besides raw amber?We also showcased a wide selection of LARIMAR jewelry, including:

Silver rings, pendants, and earrings
Stretch bracelets with top-tier color
Liquidation-priced slabs at just $0.50/g

Our silver LARIMAR pendants (normally $75) were discounted to $45 each during the stream.

Q: Are insects in amber really the most complete fossils on Earth?Yes—insects in amber are the only fossils with soft tissue, full bodies, hair, and sometimes even their prey or parasites preserved. They provide a level of detail that bones alone can't. It’s why they’ve inspired everything from Jurassic Park to cutting-edge scientific research.

Featured Pieces from the Stream

Dominican mosquito with eyes visible — $90
Myanmar mosquito possibly laying eggs — $75
Cretaceous lizard claw — $700
Feather from dinosaur-era bird — $500
Rare mantis in amber — $55 (claimed live!)
Polished Ichnomoid wasp fossil — $75
LARIMAR silver heart pendants — $45
Raw Baltic amber for home polishing — starting at $20

Want One?

We update AmberBugs.com regularly with new fossil pieces. Every item is hand-selected, ethically sourced, and museum-grade whenever possible. All pieces include detailed info cards and ship with care.