Unveiling the True Colors of Fossilized Insects through Experiments

A team of paleontologists and ecological scientists has developed a new technique to estimate the coloration of fossilized insects. By comparing simulated fossilization of living insects with ancient specimens, the researchers found that darker patches on the baked samples represented areas rich in melanin, a dark pigment. They also discovered that uniform dark areas likely result from fossilization, while splotchy areas are more likely to represent original coloring. The study suggests that experiments like these could provide valuable insights into the coloration of fossilized insects.