In the evolutionary tree of life, dozens of branches include blood feeders. This area of the exhibition explores the evolution of blood feeding, a strategy that arose long before dinosaurs walked the Earth.
30 small fossil specimens are displayed inside a showcase, arranged in two horizontal rows against a white backboard. The specimens are black flies preserved in amber from approximately 45 million years ago. Fine mounting supports hold each amber piece in place, evenly spaced across the display. Each specimen is enclosed within a clear, rectangular piece of amber ranging in colour from light yellow to deep golden brown. The fossils vary in size and orientation. They show dark insect bodies with visible wings, legs, or elongated shapes preserved within the amber. There is a movable magnifying glass attached to the top edge of the showcase which aligns with each fossil to visually enlarge it.