Baltic amber is the preserved resin of Eocene coniferous trees that
formed huge forests covering much of Scandinavia and Northern Europe. This amber is noted for the production of large numbers of Arthropod fossils, particularly Insects and Arachnids. After the True Flies (Diptera), Mites (Acari) are thought to be the second most abundant group in this amber, making up about 20% all preserved animals, though they are relatively understudied with many undescribed specimens residing in collections.
In a paper published in the journal PalZ on 30 May 2016, Marta Konikiewicz of the Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Elżbieta Sontag of the Museum of Amber Inclusions at the University of Gdańsk and Joanna Mąkol, also of the Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, describe a new species of Mite from Baltic amber from the Gulf of Gdańsk.
The new species is placed in the genus Porttrombidium, and given the specific name gedanense, meaning 'from Gdańsk'. It is described from a single, juvenile specimen.
Porttrombidium gedanense, juvenile specimen. Konikiewicz et al. (2016).
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