Fibla carpenteri

> Fibla carpenteri

An inocelliid snakefly described from a single female holotype in Baltic amber. Hyaline wings with brown venation; long neck; predatory mouthparts - wikipedia

Alavaraphidia imperterrita gen. et sp. n., holotype MCNA 13608. A lateral habitus Scale bars: A = 1 mm. (Spanish amber snakefly) - wikimedia . Original source Perez de la Fuente R, Penalver E, Delclos X, Engel MS (2012) Snakefly diversity in Early Cretaceous amber from Spain (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera). ZooKeys 204: 1-40. - zookeys

# Metadata Geological Age: Mid-Eocene (~44 million years ago) Location: Baltic amber (northern Europe) Size: just over 18 mm (largest snakefly known from amber) Environment: Mixed conifer–hardwood forests producing abundant resin.

# Habitat & Ecology - Climate: Mild with seasonal variation; rich in flowering plants. - Landscape: Forest canopy with dense understory; resin-producing trees abundant. - Role: Active predator of soft-bodied insects.

# Diet - Aphids, small flies, and larvae taken on bark and foliage.

## Predators - Small birds, predatory wasps, lizards.

# Behaviour - Hunting: Ambush predator, clinging to bark or foliage, striking with long neck. - Flight: Short bursts; primarily a stalk-and-pounce hunter. - Breeding: Eggs laid under bark; larvae lived in crevices.