Dolichoderus brevipennis

Introduction

Dolichoderus brevipennis is an extinct ant species known only from Eocene amber deposits. The species was described from Bitterfeld amber specimens found in central Europe. Only the male caste has been documented in the fossil record. Males measured approximately 2-2.5mm in body length, with distinctive features including large forward-displaced eyes, very short antennae that did not reach the posterior eye margin, and 13-segmented filiform antennae. The species likely belonged to the D. quadripunctatus species group based on morphological characteristics. This is a fossil species - no living colonies exist and it cannot be kept in captivity.