Aphaenogaster mayri

Introduction

Aphaenogaster mayri is an extinct fossil ant species that lived during the terminal Eocene epoch, approximately 34 million years ago . This species cannot be kept as a pet—it exists only as fossils preserved in the Florissant shale deposits of Colorado, USA [AntWiki]. Over 200 specimens have been recovered from these ancient lake beds, making it the most abundant myrmicine ant in the entire Florissant fossil record [AntWiki]. The fossils include workers, queens (gynes), and males, confirming this species had the same three-caste system seen in modern ants . While body sculpturing and wing venation are beautifully preserved in some specimens, details of their behavior, colony size, and care requirements remain unknown [AntWiki].