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

Fossil Pheidole tertiaria

Non-Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Pheidole tertiaria
Tribe
Attini
Subfamily
Myrmicinae
Author
Carpenter, 1930
Fossil
Yes (fossil species)
Distribution
Found in 0 countries

Introduction

Pheidole tertiaria is an extinct ant species known only from fossil specimens dating to the Late Eocene epoch, roughly 34 million years ago . The species was originally described by Carpenter in 1930 from compression fossils found in the Florissant Formation of Colorado, USA . Only two queen specimens have ever been documented, and the worker caste is completely absent from the fossil record . Because this species is extinct, you cannot keep it in captivity. There are no living colonies or individuals available. If you want to keep a living Pheidole species, the hobby offers many options like Pheidole noda, Pheidole megacephala, and Pheidole pallidula. These living species show the typical Pheidole traits you can actually observe and care for.

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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

Pheidole tertiaria is a fossil species and does not require a caresheet.