Paleontologists uncovered a startling sight within a chunk of fossilized tree resin from northern Spain: a 105-million-year-old wasp, its wings and body preserved in exquisite detail. This extinct predator, Cretevania orgonomecorum, emerged from El Soplao’s amber deposits, offering a vivid window into Early Cretaceous life and reshaping knowledge of ancient insects.
El Soplao’s Unique Amber Legacy
The El Soplao site in Cantabria stands as one of the premier amber deposits from the Early Cretaceous, dated to about 105 million years ago during the middle Albian stage. Over 1,500 fossil inclusions have been recorded here, with 30 species formally described so far. Hundreds more amber pieces await study, hinting at untapped revelations about ecosystems that thrived 40 million years before the asteroid-driven mass extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.
Amber from ancient araucariacean conifers acts as a unparalleled time capsule, trapping insects, plants, and small organisms with remarkable fidelity. Unlike sedimentary fossils, it retains fine structures like wing veins and microscopic hairs, enabling detailed analysis of anatomy and behavior. This preservation captures a snapshot of diverse Iberian Peninsula habitats teeming with insect life.
Discovery of Cretevania orgonomecorum
In October 2025, Enrique Peñalver and colleagues announced Cretevania orgonomecorum, a new species from the extinct genus Cretevania within the Evaniidae family. This parasitoid wasp, which laid eggs inside other insects to consume them from within, ranks among the genus’s largest, comparable to C. tenuis and C. pristina from other amber sites. Its intact form provides unprecedented insights into Cretaceous food webs and predatory strategies.
The find prompted a genus-wide review, revealing new anatomical traits and reclassifying Procretevania as a junior synonym of Cretevania. This underscores how fresh fossils refine taxonomy. Researchers also propose C. orgonomecorum as a potential guide fossil—species with known time ranges and broad distribution—to aid in dating Albian rock layers worldwide, enhancing stratigraphic correlations.
Spain’s Research Frontier and Future Prospects
El Soplao bolsters Spain’s status as a global hub for Cretaceous amber, alongside other key deposits. The Geological and Mining Institute (IGME-CSIC), led by Peñalver’s team, drives analysis with international collaborators from Europe and Asia. Though cataloging the backlog will span decades, advances like CT scanning promise non-destructive study of fragile specimens. These efforts link ancient dynamics to modern biodiversity challenges, illuminating ecosystem evolution amid today’s environmental shifts.
Sources:
“A new species of Cretevania (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) preserved in Albian amber of El Soplao (Cantabria, Spain).” Peñalver, Enrique, et al., Palaeoentomology, Oct 2025.
“Review of the El Soplao Amber Outcrop, Early Cretaceous of Cantabria, Spain.” Najarro, M., et al., Acta Geologica Sinica, 2010.
“Cretaceous Spanish amber: History, research and checklist of taxa.” Peñalver, Enrique, et al., Palaeoentomology, Apr 2025.
“Mesozoic Evaniidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in Spanish Amber.” Peñalver, Enrique, et al., Journal article on Early Cretaceous Evaniidae from Spanish amber, 2010s.