McAbee Fossil Site

McAbee Fossil Site

Credit: S. Bruce Archibald

Paleontologist S. Bruce Archibald at the McAbee Fossil Site in Canada, one of many spots in British Columbia that preserves tiny fossilized insects in stunning detail.

Fossil Fly

Fossil Fly

Credit: S. Bruce Archibald

A fossilized fungus gnat from Driftwood Canyon, Canada. The fly is only a few millimeters long.

Fossil Insect

Fossil Insect

Credit: S. Bruce Archibald

A fossil insect from British Columbia. Details are preserved finely enough that scientists can figure out which species the specimens belonged to.

Fossil Wasp

Fossil Wasp

Credit: S. Bruce Archibald

A fossil wasp from the collection of the Stonerose Interpretive Center & Eocene Fossil Site in Republic, Wash.

Stonerose Wasp

Stonerose Wasp

Credit: S. Bruce Archibald

The wings of a wasp from the Stonerose Interpretive Center & Eocene Fossil Site collection are barely visible.

Tiny Fossil

Tiny Fossil

Credit: S. Bruce Archibald

Paleontologist Rolf Mathewes of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia holds up a tiny insect fossil.

Quilchena Fossil Site

Quilchena Fossil Site

Credit: S. Bruce Archibald

Paleontologist Rolf Mathewes with students at the Quilchena fossil site in British Columbia.