Fossilized insects 15 million years old discovered in New Zealand

A unique scientific discovery by scientists from the University of Otago reveals the secrets of the ancient nature of New Zealand. The researchers discovered tiny fossils of whiteflies, miniature insects that inhabited the region millions of years ago.

The place of discovery is the sediments of a Miocene crater lake near Dunedin. The peculiarity of this discovery was the extremely good preservation of the fossils, measuring only 1.5 by 1.25 mm. This is reported in the journal Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments.

Professor Daphne Lee said that these fossils confirm the existence of whiteflies in New Zealand for at least 15 million years. Microscopic examination of the samples revealed impressive details of the insects' structure.

A colleague of the researcher, Uwe Kaulfus, described the unique process of fossilization. According to him, the leaf with the larva probably fell into the lake, instantly covered with sedimentary rocks, which ensured incredibly accurate preservation of the remains.

This find is of particular importance as it is only the third such specimen in world science. It significantly expands our understanding of the biodiversity of ancient New Zealand ecosystems.

It's worth noting that 14,000 species of insects in New Zealand are endemic - they are not found on any other continent. Each such discovery helps scientists better understand the evolutionary history of the unique local fauna.

The study confirms the extraordinary scientific value of paleontological finds, which literally revive the million-year history of our planet.

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