Gesomyrmex pulcher

Introduction

Gesomyrmex pulcher is an extinct ant species from the Middle Eocene, approximately 47 million years old, known only from a single fossil queen found in the Messel formation of Germany . This species belongs to the Formicinae subfamily and the tribe Gesomyrmecini, which are believed to have been arboreal (tree-dwelling) ants . The queen measured approximately 4.8mm in body length, with a yellowish-brown head and mesosoma, dark brown mandibles and gaster, and yellow legs . Due to the limited fossil material and lack of a formal diagnosis, researchers consider this a questionable species (species inquirenda) . As an extinct fossil species, Gesomyrmex pulcher cannot be kept in captivity.