Emplastus haueri

Introduction

Emplastus haueri is an extinct ant species known only from fossil impressions preserved in Miocene-era deposits found in Radoboj, Croatia . The species was originally described in 1867 by Gustav L. Mayr from a single queen specimen in limestone, which Heer had mistakenly labeled as Formica occultata . Based on wing venation patterns, researchers have placed this species in various genera over the years: first Hypoclinea, then Iridomyrmex, then Dolichoderus, and most recently Emplastus . The queen measured about 5.8 mm in body length, with a small head, a very elongate middle body section (mesosoma), and an oval gaster (abdomen) . This species went extinct millions of years ago and has no living representatives.