Dolichoderus balticus

Introduction

Dolichoderus balticus is an extinct ant species from the Late Eocene, approximately 44-49 million years ago. It is known from fossilized amber specimens found across Central and Eastern Europe, including Baltic, Bitterfeld, Rovno, and Scandinavian amber deposits . Workers measured 5.5-7.5mm in body length, making them comparable in size to many modern ant species. The species belongs to the subfamily Dolichoderinae, which includes familiar modern ants like the Argentine ant . This is one of the most common ant species preserved in Baltic amber, indicating these ants were widespread and abundant in the ancient Eocene forests . The fossil record provides remarkable detail of this species' anatomy, preserved in ancient tree resin. Specimens show a distinctive convex dorsal surface on the propodeum with a raised chitinous crest at the posterior end . The wide distribution across multiple amber deposits makes D. balticus one of the best-documented ant species in the Eocene fossil record.