Fossil Fly Sex

Fossil Fly Sex

Credit: Dr. Huang

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

Male Fly

Male Fly

Credit: Dr. Huang

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

Male and Female Flies

Male and Female Flies

Credit: Dr. Huang

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

Winged Male

Winged Male

Credit: Dr. Huang

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

Fly Ecology

Fly Ecology

Credit: Dr. Huang

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.