This authentic Dominican Amber gemstone contains a nicely preserved and nicely displayed adult Clusiidae Fly. This specimen has been examined by paleoentomologists at the American Museum of Natural in New York City. "The clusiids are small and relatively uncommon flies in which the wings are often smoky or marked with brown, especially apically. The body color varies from pale yellow to black. Some species have the thorax blackdorsally and yellowish laterally. The larvae, which occur in decaying wood and under bark are able to jump, much like the larvae of skipper flies." Triplehorn 1992.

Flies belong to the Diptera order which is subdivided into 3 suborders, the Nematocera, the Cyclorrhapha, and the Brachycera. The Nematocera are the most primitive suborder of flies, these are the flies with long multi segmented antennae, the Cyclorrhapa and Brachycera are flies with short antennae, the Brachycera generally have slender antennae with few segments and a hair like arista originating from the tip of the antennae, the Cyclorrapha are the most advanced of all flies and are the most common fly found today, however they are rare in amber. Cyclorrapha generally have glob like antennae with the arista originating near the base of the antennae. Cyclorrapha have been recorded in amber but it is difficult for non experts to tell them apart due to the simple venation of their wings.

This specimen is offered here for $175.00 complete satisfaction guaranteed. To view photos and videos of our some of our amber excavations in the blue amber mines in mountains of the Dominican Republic and to see a small java applet of the amber mines click here - (opens in a new browser window). Our amber comes direct from the Dominican Republic amber mines east of the world famous La Toca amber mine. These specimens do not go through any middle men, we acquire these specimens from the miners and mine owners directly at the amber mines.