Palaeoenthomological research

Palaeoentomological researchers from Novosibirsk have found several new species of fossil insects in the course of researching the Baltic amber samples with inclusions from the collection of Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum.

To the Amber Museum came palaeoentomologists from Novosibirsk, workers of the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Branch of the RAS, Laboratory of Phylogeny and Faunogenesis – Dr. Andrei Legalov, head of laboratory and Ph.D. in biology Sergei Chernyshev, leading research associate.

Their first visit to Kaliningrad will last for only a week. However the first days of research have already resulted in discovery of species of ancient insects new to the science, that includes bugs.

– We presumed that here should be a good collection and new species will be discovered  which will be new to the science. So it has happened. In cooperation with the senior research associate of the Amber Museum Andranik Manukian we are researching samples in the laboratory. The earlier unknown species we take photos of and prepare their descriptions for the prestigious international journals. Such foundings are extremely interesting for the wide circle of scientists not only in Russia, but also in Europe, USA, and Australia, – mentions palaeoentomologist Dr. Andrei Legalov.

– We still have trouble picturing how ecosystems of the past looked like and how they functioned. If we speak about amber and amber forests, it is still not clear, what kind of plant produced the resin. Studying life in the "amber forest" lets us understand, how modern ecosystems will change, – explained the researcher.

We would like to remind that the collection of natural amber pieces with inclusions number in over 10000 unites in Kaliningrad Regional Amber Museum. It is a unique national treasure carefully kept in the museum's vault and partially is presented for guests in the exposition.