Scientists Just Found South America’s First Amber-Preserved Insects—and They’re Stunning

For the first time, scientists have uncovered a large amber deposit in South America containing fossilized insects and other preserved creatures. The small, half-transparent fossils hold a rich assortment of ancient bugs—and a slice of life from little-known ecosystems from over 100 million years ago.

A Communications & Earth Environment study published today details amber samples from Ecuador’s Genoveva quarry—the first discovery in South America to yield fossilized insects and other life forms. The team, led by paleobiologist Xavier Delclòs from the University of Barcelona in Spain, employed a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the fossils in fine detail. Their efforts unveiled the prior existence of a vibrant, tropical rainforest as the Earth underwent major environmental shifts