Pachycondyla lutzi

Introduction

Pachycondyla lutzi is an extinct ant species that lived about 48 million years ago during the Eocene period. Fossils from the Messel Pit in Germany show it was a large ant, with queens up to 15 mm long and workers around 8 mm . This species belonged to the Ponerinae subfamily, which includes predatory ants with stings. The fossils are exceptionally well-preserved, providing detailed morphological data . You cannot keep this species in captivity because it has been extinct for millions of years. The fossils reveal interesting features like wing venation and body proportions, but no living colonies exist.