Technomyrmex svojtkai

Introduction

Technomyrmex svojtkai is an extinct ant species preserved in Early Miocene Ethiopian amber, dating back approximately 16-23 million years . Workers measured 2.00 mm in body length, making them small ants . The species was described in 2022 from three fossil worker specimens found in amber deposits from the Amhara region of Ethiopia . As a member of the Dolichoderinae subfamily, this species would have used a smear defense mechanism, exuding foul-smelling chemicals from an anal gland, since it lacks a functional sting. The fossil shows distinctive features including a reduced petiole (a low segment without a node), similar to the modern genus *Tapinoma*, and an exposed pygidium with five visible gastral tergites . This species represents an important fossil record that helps fill gaps in the geological history of African ant biodiversity.