Emplastus gurnetensis

Introduction

Emplastus gurnetensis is an extinct ant species known only from fossil specimens dating to the Late Eocene period, approximately 33-34 million years ago. The fossils were discovered in the Insect Limestone deposits on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom . This species belongs to the subfamily Dolichoderinae, making it a relative of modern ants like Tapinoma and Linepithema . Queens measured approximately 5.5mm in body length, comparable in size to many common garden ants found today . The species was originally described as Dolichoderus gurnetensis by Donisthorpe in 1920 before being reclassified into the genus Emplastus in 2014 . Emplastus gurnetensis represents one of the most common ant species found in the Isle of Wight fossil deposits, comprising about 5% of all ant specimens recovered . The fossil record shows this species had morphological features intermediate between E. britannicus and E. hypolithus, with a characteristic low petiolar scale that is triangular when viewed from the side . As an extinct species, no living colonies exist, and no observations of living behavior, colony structure, or care requirements are possible.