Exceptional fossil “Strudiella Devonica” discovered in Belgium

The fossilized insect was found in sedimentary rocks in a deserted quarry and lived some 360 million years ago in the Late Devonian Period.

The preservation of insects in sedimentary rocks is relatively rare, which makes the discovery even more special. The fossil was complete. It is not often that insect fossils from the Late Devonian Period are found.

"Strudiella Devonica", as the insect was called, was 8 millimetres in length with long antennas and big eyes. Althought there are no traces of wings, it is suspected that it was a flying insect. The insect fed on plants but could have an omnivore.

The excavations in Strud were coordinated by the Musée national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris and the Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences. They cooperate with specialists of the Uppsala University in Sweden, the University of Kansas, the Université de Liège and the CNRS in France.

[Flandersnews.be / Expatica]