Sphecomyrma freyi

Introduction

Sphecomyrma freyi is an extinct ant species that lived approximately 92 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. It was discovered preserved in amber from New Jersey and represents one of the oldest known ant fossils, offering a window into early ant evolution . Workers show a mix of ant and wasp features: they have the characteristic ant petiole (waist) and metapleural gland, but also retained wasp-like bidentate mandibles and relatively short antennae scapes . Two workers have been found preserved together in the same piece of amber, suggesting these ancient ants already lived in colonies . The species is extinct and cannot be kept.