Pachycondyla gracilicornis

Introduction

Pachycondyla gracilicornis is an extinct ant species known only from Baltic amber dating to the Late Eocene epoch, approximately 40 million years ago . Workers measured around 10.5 mm in body length . They belong to the subfamily Ponerinae and have a rounded head, dense punctation on the head, mesosoma, and gaster, and decumbent pubescence . The compound eyes are oval and positioned very close to the mandible bases . The antennae show that the first five flagellomeres are each longer than wide . This species was originally described as Ponera gracilicornis by Mayr in 1868 and later transferred to Pachycondyla, though its generic placement may need revision . The gyne and male castes are unknown from the fossil record .