Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Arachnids
The fossil record of arachnids (spiders,
scorpions, mites, and their allies) would
be much poorer were it not for
Dominican and other amber inclusions.
Scorpions are rare in Dominican amber
and specimens of them are highly prized.
Three genera are found, of which
Microtityus
(
276
) is the commonest.
Resembling miniature scorpions but
is known, and a caterpillar of
Theope
,
which is known to be associated with
secretion-harvesting ants today (De Vries
and Poinar, 1997).
Commonly, the presence of insects and
other animals can only be inferred from
trace fossils. (
274
) shows a leaf with insect
larva bite marks, and (
275
) is a rare example
of a spider web in amber; in this case, an ant
has been caught in the silken strands.
274
274 A leaf showing insect
larval bite marks PC. Bite
about 3 mm 0.1 in across.
275
275 An ant caught in a
spider web PC. Body length
about 2 mm 0.08 in.
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