Gala Guests Snub Couple's Fake Antique Mosquito

Ruairi Rusu and Yusra Jovanovic were left standing alone at the Harbour Ridge Spring Gala on Saturday. They had unveiled a pre-flood mosquito in a glass case, and a guest called it "clearly born last Tuesday." Mr Rusu, who made his money in tide insurance, had paid for the insect at auction. Within ten minutes the string quartet had stopped playing near them.

The guest was Valtteri Koskinen, a mosquito assessor with the Keizersgracht Society for Heritage Fauna. He examined the case for under a minute. "The wings are too tidy," he said. "A real one has lived through something. Ours has outlived two husbands and a pantry fire, and it still won't use the front door."

Keeping a pre-flood mosquito is now the surest sign of old dyke money. Families on the upper ridges say their insects came through the water on the same boat as the silver. Most are fed by hand, from the wrist, and several have been named in wills.

Ms Jovanovic said the couple had been sold a certificate. Mr Koskinen said certificates are printed in a shed in Zaandam, and that he has seen the shed.

The couple left before the soup. By Sunday, three hosts had cancelled invitations.

Mr Rusu has asked that the mosquito be referred to as "mature." It has bitten him twice, which the Society says is the first honest thing it has done.