Scientific illustration of Formica annosa ant - showing key identification features including head, thorax, and gaster.

Fossil Formica annosa

Non-Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Formica annosa
Tribe
Formicini
Subfamily
Formicinae
Author
LaPolla & Greenwalt, 2015
Fossil
Yes (fossil species)
Distribution
Found in 0 countries

Introduction

Formica annosa is an extinct ant species known only from fossil specimens preserved in the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation in northwestern Montana, USA, dating to approximately 46 million years ago. Only male specimens have been described - the queen and worker castes remain unknown. These fossils show males with an overall dark brown coloration, large eyes, and features resembling extant Formica fusca-group males. The species was formally described in 2015 by LaPolla and Greenwalt based on two male compression fossils.

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Status by country, from Kass et al. 2022 & Wong et al. 2023

Native Invasive Introduced (indoor) Intercepted Unknown
2000 - 2026
Fossil

No caresheet needed

Formica annosa is a fossil species and does not require a caresheet.