Predatory Cockroach From Dinosaur Era Found Trapped in Amber

This is pretty cool, ATS. A new extinct species of cockroach aka: Manipulator modificaputis, has been discovered at a mine in Noije Bum, Myanmar. This new cockroach is very similar to a Preying Mantis due to its long neck and long legs which enabled the insect to hunt; mainly at night.

Peter Vršanský from the Geological Institute in Bratislava, Slovakia, and his team, who examined the insect, say its long neck, which allows the head to rotate freely, and unusually long legs, suggest that it actively pursued prey. The fossilised insect, called Manipulator modificaputis, was discovered at a mine in Noije Bum, Myanmar.

During the early Cretaceous period when it lived, several predatory cockroach-like lineages evolved. Only one group survives today: the praying mantises, which have similar front legs to the fossil, and are closely related to cockroaches.

I thought ATS would get a kick out of this. Check it out.

Source

As much as I dislike cockroaches, that is pretty damn cool. It's amazing how well preserved it is.

s&f

a reply to: lostbook

Here is the Pic of it OP



Looks more like a Mantis fly to me .

good catch Kapusta!

What the...? I've never seen a mantis fly before. Yes, it does look like the fly. Hmmm, interesting!

originally posted by: Kapusta
a reply to: lostbook

Here is the Pic of it OP

Looks more like a Mantis fly to me .

If that isn't god# terrifyin, I don't know what is.

a reply to: Kapusta

I can't decide if I want to give a star or leave the internet forever. That post really hurt my eyes.

a reply to: FaceMyBook

Whelp, you should try looking at these thigs move they. Mimic other insects. For instance the one in the pic looks like a wasp it also moves and acts just like a wasp.

Also their is a mantis fly "ant" that moves and acts like an ant .

Tell me that anint creepy!!!

That is some very colorless amber.

First, seeing a living thing as it existed 100 million years ago is an extremely cool thing, and a bit mind boggling. Thanks for that.

I'm curious on size - a quick google doesn't turn anything up. Wasn't everything bigger back then?

originally posted by: Kapusta
a reply to: FaceMyBook

Whelp, you should try looking at these thigs move they. Mimic other insects. For instance the one in the pic looks like a wasp it also moves and acts just like a wasp.

Also their is a mantis fly "ant" that moves and acts like an ant .

Tell me that anint creepy!!!

Insect biology is pretty amazing. The way insects behave to hunt and fight is pretty crazy.

originally posted by: redtic
First, seeing a living thing as it existed 100 million years ago is an extremely cool thing, and a bit mind boggling. Thanks for that.

I'm curious on size - a quick google doesn't turn anything up. Wasn't everything bigger back then?

The climate on Earth was warmer and more humid with 20% more oxygen in the atmosphere. With those conditions, insects and other bugs can grow to be much larger. Dragonflies and just about everything else.

en.wikipedia.org...

Per the article, it is some form of mantis, which is apparently closely related to cockroaches. I did not know that!

a reply to: lostbook

Amber from the Cretaceous, found in a mine ... Now all they need is to extract the dino DNA!

I wonder if the mantis- roach last meal is preserved, like bog mummies and tundra mammoths stomach contents are.

a reply to: lostbook

Creepy,

It appears that this was found 12 years ago in 2003. From your source...........

And 10 years before that in 1993, Spielberg in Jurassic Park based the entire movies premise on this..... Remarkable coincidence, my mind is racing as to what they may have done with this specimen in the last 13 years, and what other bat-ship crazy creatures have been found that we arre yet to find out about.

S&F, thanks.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

You mean we are on the verge of someone creating Devonian Park?

a reply to: Krazysh0t

LOL "things based on horror movies"...........I think I would prefer a Velociraptor or T-Rex than some flying massive Mantis.

Thanks for the thought - too bad one cannot delete images from the minds-eye.

I think I might just stay awake for a few days.........just in case.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

Haha! Sorry I couldn't help myself. You posted the links and I just had to go there.

a reply to: Sublimecraft



...This movie was 60 years ahead of its time. :p