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View of a mosquito fossilised in amber

Mosquito in amber. Fossilized mosquito (Family: Culicidae) embedded in amber. Amber is fossilized resin that was produced by various now extinct coniferous trees during the Jurassic period. The sticky resin trapped small insects as it solidified and hardened, preserving their bodies for millions of years. This is one of the few processes by which fossils are preserved complete with all of their soft tissues. Various types of insect are preserved, including bees, wasps and ants (Order: Hymenoptera). Many of these species are now extinct

© Sinclair Stammers/Science Photo Library

Japanese yellow hornet (Vespa simillima xanthoptera)

Japanese yellow hornet (Vespa simillima xanthoptera) parasitised by a female twisted-wing parasite (Xenos moutoni), that is seldom seen as it lives its life inside its host. The end of the parasite is protruding from the hornet's abdominal segments. Males live only five hours or so and do not eat. Japan

Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) flying to Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)

Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) flying to Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. July

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