Dolichoderus nanus

Introduction

Dolichoderus nanus is an extinct ant species known only from fossilized specimens preserved in Baltic amber from the Late Eocene, approximately 33-44 million years ago . Workers measured about 3.7 mm in body length, making them relatively small for the genus. The species is characterized by a distinctive high sharp chitinous crest separating the dorsal and posterior propodeum surfaces - the dorsal surface is strongly convex while the posterior surface is weakly concave in profile . As a member of the subfamily Dolichoderinae, this species represents an ancient lineage that no longer exists in the modern world .