Initial steps of insect fossilisation in cave flowstone

Abstract

In a small, abandoned coal mine in northeastern Slovenia, there is an area with intensive flowstone deposition. We found about two hundred carcasses of the mosquito Culex pipiens s. l., as well as a few remains of a winter crane fly Trichocera sp., a rove beetle Atheta cf. spelaea, and a false diamondback moth Digitivalva pulicariae on the wall, partly or entirely embedded in the flowstone. We describe the initial taphonomic steps in these carcasses and discuss the probable reasons why the insect remains disintegrate completely, interrupting the process of fossilisation.