30 Million-Year-Old Praying Mantis Perfectly Preserved In A Piece Of Amber

This 30-million-year-old praying mantis is encased in a clear piece of amber and measures in over one inch tall. The prized piece even sold at Heritage Auctions for $6,000 in 2016 and is an incredibly rare view of the insect.

The encasing is comprised of a prehistoric tree from the Dominican Republic and has a reputation for its rare clarity according My Modern Met. This tiny fossil could date as far back as the Oligocene period some 23 million to 34 million years ago.

This preying mantis is essentially frozen in time and is one of 2,400 species of its kind. They typically live in tropical climates and is a true relic of evolutionary history.

30-Million-Year-Old Praying Mantis

Photo: Heritage Auctions

Encased in amber sometime during the Oligocene period

Photo: Heritage Auctions

Photo: Heritage Auctions

The piece sold for $6,000 back in 2016

Photo: Heritage Auctions

Amber with Inclusions:

• Hymenaea protera
• Oligocene
• Dominican Republic
• Overall Measurements: 1.18 x 0.61 x 0.52 inches (3.00 x 1.56 x 1.32 cm)

Photo credits and additional info visit: Heritage Auctions – America’s Auction House