Fossil Fly Sex

A mating pair of strashilids, fossil insects from the Jurassic that resemble modern aquatic flies.

Male Fly

A male strashilid fly with grasping limbs from the Jurassic, found in Inner Mongolia.

Male and Female Flies

A reconstruction of the male strashilid fly (right) and the female (left).

Winged Male

This fossil strashilid, a male, reveals its large, membranous wing.

Fly Ecology

This illustration captures the likely ecology of Jurassic strashilids, from the larval stage to winged adulthood. Finally, the flies shed their wings and return to the water to mate and die.

Image Album:

Images: Fossil Fly Sex

Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer
Date: 20 February 2013 Time: 01:00 PM ET
MORE ALBUMS
Go