JERUSALEM, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have discovered a 99-million-year-old bug preserved in amber, the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University said in a statement on Wednesday.
This species, which was unknown until now, has unique colors and shape, as described in the Israel Journal of Entomology by Dolev Fabrikant, a researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Tania Novoselska, the museum's Heteroptera collection manager.
The mid-Cretaceous fossil specimens were quarried from an amber mine in Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar and purchased over a year ago by researchers on the online trading platform eBay.
The newly discovered bug stands out in its Yuripopovinidae family due to its extraordinarily large eyes, intricate body color pattern, and noticeably enlarged scutellum, the statement explained.
In addition, it has separate costal and subcostal veins on its wing, a feature not seen before in its family members found in amber.
The creature's name, Miropictopallium coloradmonens, denotes the new genus and species, respectively.
The colors and unique shape of the bug were probably used, according to the researchers, as a deterrent against predators.
The researchers noted that the bug's colors were well-preserved, surprisingly sharp and clear, in contrast to most ancient insects preserved in amber, which are usually yellowish-brown, pale, and uniform in color.
The statement highlighted that the recent discovery enhanced comprehension of the prehistoric environment and biodiversity and species evolution.
Furthermore, understanding ancient biodiversity helped researchers anticipate species resilience in the face of future challenges such as global warming, it said. ■
