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

Fossil Gesomyrmex macrops

Non-Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Gesomyrmex macrops
Tribe
Gesomyrmecini
Subfamily
Formicinae
Author
Dlussky <i>et al.</i>, 2015
Fossil
Yes (fossil species)
Distribution
Found in 0 countries

Introduction

Gesomyrmex macrops is an extinct ant species known only from fossil remains found in Late Eocene deposits at Bol'shaya Svetlovodnaya in the Sikhote-Alin region of the Russian Far East . This species lived approximately 33-38 million years ago during the Priabonian age. The species was described in 2015 based on a single fossil queen, and is distinguished by its notably large eyes - the specific name 'macrops' comes from the Latin for 'with large eyes' . The queen measured 9.7mm in body length, making it a relatively large ant . Researchers consider this a species inquirenda (a questionable species requiring further study), and it may represent a form closely related to Gesomyrmex germanicus .

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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

Gesomyrmex macrops is a fossil species and does not require a caresheet.