99-Million-Year-Old Amber Preserves Earliest-Known Mosquito Larva
A new fossil, found in a piece of amber from Myanmar, is the first mosquito larva preserved in amber and the first immature mosquito from the Mesozoic Era.
The fossil, named Cretosabethes primaevus, provides strong support for the Jurassic origin of the mosquito family Culicidae and suggests that their larval morphology has remained relatively conserved for at least 99 million years!.
Mosquitoes comprise a large group of insects, with over 3,727 living species, playing a significant role in ecosystems, human history, and human and veterinary health.
Currently, 31 fossil species of mosquitoes are recognized, with ancient mosquitoes being similar to living species.
Author's summary: Fossil discovery sheds light on mosquito evolution.