Nylanderia pygmaea

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Nylanderia pygmaea
Temporal range: Middle Eocene
Nylanderia pygmaea NHMW-WBE5-3 profile.jpg
Nylanderia pygmaea syntype male from the Prussian Formation, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Nylanderia
Species:
N. pygmaea
Binomial name
Nylanderia pygmaea
(Mayr, 1868)
Synonyms
  • Prenolepis pygmaea
  • Paratrechina pygmaea

Nylanderia pygmaea is an extinct species of formicid in the ant subfamily Formicinae known from fossils found in the Prussian Formation of the Baltic region.

Contents

History and classification

When described N. pygmaea was known from twenty males and two queen fossils which were fossilized as inclusions in transparent chunks of Baltic amber [1] [2] almost all of which are now presumed lost. [1] Additional individuals of all castes have since been found in Baltic, Bitterfeld, Rovno, and Scandinavian amber. [3] [4]

Baltic amber is approximately forty six million years old, having been deposited during Lutetian stage of the Middle Eocene. There is debate on by what plant family the amber was produced, with macrofossil and microfossil evidence suggesting a Pinus relative, while chemical and spectroscopic evidence suggests Agathis or Sciadopitys . [5] [6] The paleoenvironment of the Eocene Baltic forests where the P. eocenicum lived was that of humid temperate to subtropical islands. The forests were composed of mostly Quercus and Pinus species, while the lower sections of the forests had paratropical plant elements, such as palms. [5] Rovno amber, recovered from deposits in the Rivne region of Ukraine, is slightly younger in age, being dated to the Bartonian to Priabonian of the Late Eocene. [7] Bitterfeld amber is recovered from coal deposits in the Saxony area of Germany and the dating of the deposits is uncertain. Bitterfeld represents a section of the Eocene Paratethys Sea, and the amber that is recovered from the region is thought to be redeposited from older sediments. The fossil record of Bitterfeld and Baltic amber insects is very similar with a number of shared species, and that similarity is noted in the suggestions of a single source for the paleoforest that produced the amber. [8] The amber deposits on the Danish coast, often referred to as Scandinavian amber, is of similar age to the other three European ambers, however a study of the ant fauna published in 2009 indicates Scandinavian amber has a fairly distinct ant assemblage. [3]

N. pygmaea queen Nylanderia pygmaea BMNHP-II1111B Profile.jpg
N. pygmaea queen

The species was first described in 1868 by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr based on twenty males and two queens. He named the species and placed it into the genus Prenolepis as Prenolepis pygmaea. [9] [1] The species was briefly re-examined in 1915 by William Morton Wheeler based on a group of 57 males and 3 queens, including 10 of Mayr's original male syntypes and 1 gyne syntype. Mayr's placement was unchanged until 2009 when the species was moved by Gennady Dlussky and Alexandr Rasnitsyn. Dlussky and Rasnitsyn noted that when the species was described by both Mayr and Wheeler Prenolepis and Paratrechina were considered a single genus, which was later separated by Carlo Emery in 1925, leaving the fossil species in Prenolepis. Based on the character states observed by Dlussky and Rasnitsyn they moved the species to Paratrechina. [3] Fossil species belonging to the Prenolepis genus group were again examined and reviewed in 2010 by John LaPolla and Gennady Dlussky. Based on the mandible, pronotal structure and mesonotal setae they moved the species to Nylanderia , noting the species to be the oldest in the genus. [1]

Paleoecology

N. pygmaea is known primarily by winged males and females, a situation also seen in several Ponerinae species in Baltic, Bitterfeld, and Scandinavian ambers. Modern Nylanderia and the ponerinae species from Gnamptogenys , Hypoponera , Pachycondyla , Ponera , and Proceratium are all ground dwelling and nesting species, whose workers rarely climb high into trees. Due to this, the workers of the amber forest species would not often come into contact with fresh resin to be entombed. However, in all of the genera, the winged queens and males would climb plants and trees surrounding the nests during the nuptial flight increasing greatly the contact with fresh resin and entrapment. [3] [10]

An investigation of Baltic, Bitterfeld, Scandinavian, and Rovno ambers in 2009 showed over 90% of N. pygmaea specimens in Baltic, Scandinavian and Bitterfeld ambers were alates, while still being a very small component of the ant faunas. In Baltic amber N. pygmaea was between 0.51% and 0.71% of all ants, and in Bitterfeld the species was only 1.26%. In contrast Rovno amber showed a larger percentage at 3.03% and Scandinavian had the highest percentage 3.66%, which was suggested to relate possibly to habitat humidity. [3]

Description

Workers are between 1.5–1.6 mm (0.059–0.063 in) long with a shiny brown exoskeleton. There are setae along the rear edge of the head, two pairs of upright setae on the pronotum, another pair on the mesonotum and the gaster has scattered upright setae. The heads are rectangular in outline, being slightly narrower than long, and have a faintly concave to straight rear margin. The first segment of the antennae, the scape, extends past the rear edge of the head. They have a compact mesosoma that has a distinct metanotal sclerite and a gently curved propodeum. [1]

Males are a little larger than the workers, with a length between 1.5–1.7 mm (0.059–0.067 in) [2] reported by Wheeler in 1915 and between 1.7–1.9 mm (0.067–0.075 in) reported by LaPolla in 2010. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Paratrechina</i> Genus of ants

Paratrechina is one of seven ant genera in the Prenolepis genus-group from the subfamily Formicinae. Six species are included in Paratrechina; one of which, the longhorn crazy ant, is a widespread, pantropical pest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltic amber</span> Type of amber from the Baltic area

Baltic amber or succinite is amber from the Baltic region, home of its largest known deposits. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that this forested region provided the resin for more than 100,000 tons of amber. Today, more than 90% of the world's amber comes from Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. It is a major source of income for the region; the local Kaliningrad Amber Combine extracted 250 tonnes of it in 2014 and 400 tonnes in 2015.

<i>Prionomyrmex</i> Extinct genus of ants

Prionomyrmex is an extinct genus of bulldog ants in the subfamily Myrmeciinae of the family Formicidae. It was first described by Gustav Mayr in 1868, after he collected a holotype worker of P. longiceps in Baltic amber. Three species are currently described, characterised by their long mandibles, slender bodies and large size. These ants are known from the Eocene and Late Oligocene, with fossil specimens only found around Europe. It is suggested that these ants preferred to live in jungles, with one species assumed to be an arboreal nesting species. These ants had a powerful stinger that was used to subdue prey. In 2000, it was suggested by Cesare Baroni Urbani that the living species Nothomyrmecia macrops and a species he described both belonged to Prionomyrmex, but this proposal has not been widely accepted by the entomological community. Instead, scientists still classify the two genera distinctive from each other, making Nothomyrmecia a valid genus.

<i>Ypresiomyrma</i> Extinct genus of ants

Ypresiomyrma is an extinct genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmeciinae that was described in 2006. There are four species described; one species is from the Isle of Fur in Denmark, two are from the McAbee Fossil Beds in British Columbia, Canada, and the fourth from the Bol’shaya Svetlovodnaya fossil site in Russia. The queens of this genus are large, the mandibles are elongated and the eyes are well developed; a stinger is also present. The behaviour of these ants would have been similar to that of extant Myrmeciinae ants, such as solitary foraging for arthropod prey and never leaving pheromone trails. The alates were poor flyers due to their size, and birds and animals most likely preyed on these ants. Ypresiomyrma is not assigned to any tribe, and is instead generally regarded as incertae sedis within Myrmeciinae. However, some authors believe Ypresiomyrma should be assigned as incertae sedis within Formicidae.

<i>Nylanderia</i> Genus of ants

Nylanderia is a large genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species inhabiting a wide array of habitats in almost all geographic regions. Nylanderia, currently containing over 110 species, is an ecologically important genus, with some species reported as being invasive. The ants are small to medium in size and range in color from pale yellow to black.

<i>Gesomyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Gesomyrmex is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus contains six extant species, known from the Indomalayan realm, and nine fossil species. Of the extant species, four are known only from workers and two only from females. The extinct species "G. expectans" and "Gesomyrmex miegi", formerly placed in the genus, were excluded by Dlussky et al.., 2009.

Pristomyrmex rasnitsyni is an extinct species of ant in the genus Pristomyrmex. The species is known from a single Late Eocene fossil which was found in Europe.

<i>Aphaenogaster sommerfeldti</i> Extinct species of ant

Aphaenogaster sommerfeldti is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae known from a group of Middle Eocene fossils found in Europe. A. sommerfeldti is one of three species in the ant genus Aphaenogaster to have been noted from fossils found in Baltic amber by William Morton Wheeler.

<i>Aphaenogaster mersa</i> Extinct species of ant

Aphaenogaster mersa is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae known from a pair of Middle Eocene fossils found in Europe. A. mersa is one of three species in the ant genus Aphaenogaster to have been noted from fossils found in Baltic amber by William Morton Wheeler.

<i>Usomyrma</i> Genus of ants

Usomyrma is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Dolichoderinae. The genus contains a single described species, Usomyrma mirabilis, that is known from two Middle Eocene fossils which were found in Scandinavian amber in Denmark.

<i>Yantaromyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Yantaromyrmex is an extinct genus of ants first described in 2013. Members of this genus are in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae, known from Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene fossils found in Europe. The genus currently contains five described species, Y. constrictus, Y. geinitzi, Y. intermedius, Y. mayrianum and Y. samlandicus. The first specimens were collected in 1868 and studied by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr, who originally placed the fossils in other ant genera until the fossils were reviewed and subsequently placed into their own genus. These ants are small, measuring from 4 to 6 mm in length and can be characterized by their trapezoidal shaped head-capsules and oval compound eyes that are located slightly to the rear of the capsules midpoint, with no known ocelli present.

<i>Zherichinius</i> Genus of ants

Zherichinius is an extinct genus of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae known from fossils found in amber from the Middle Eocene of Sakhalin island Far eastern Russia and Bitterfeld, Germany. At the time of description the species Zherichinius horribilis and Zherichinius rapax were two of eight ant species known from Sakhalin fossils.

<i>Pachycondyla eocenica</i> Extinct species of ant

Pachycondyla eocenica is an extinct species of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. P. eocenica is one of six Lutetian Pachycondyla species.

<i>Pachycondyla petiolosa</i> Extinct species of ant

Pachycondyla petiolosa is an extinct species of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described by from a fossil found in Europe. P. parvula is one of six Lutetian Pachycondyla species.

<i>Pachycondyla petrosa</i> Extinct species of ant

Pachycondyla petrosa is an extinct species of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from a fossil found in Europe. P. petrosa is one of six Lutetian Pachycondyla species.

Aneuretellus is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Aneuretinae, and is one of eight genera of the subfamily. The genus contains a single described species Aneuretellus deformis and is known from one Middle Eocene fossil which was found in Sakhalin in the Russian Far East.

<i>Bradoponera</i> Extinct genus of ants

Bradoponera is an extinct genus of ant in the Formicidae subfamily Proceratiinae, and is one of four genera of the subfamily. The genus contains four described species Bradoponera electrina, Bradoponera meieri, Bradoponera similis, and Bradoponera wunderlichi. The species are known from several Middle Eocene amber fossils which were found in Europe.

<i>Proceratium eocenicum</i> Extinct species of ant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embolemidae</span> Family of wasps

Embolemidae is a family of small solitary parasitoid wasps with around 70 species in 2 genera distributed around the world. The few species whose biology is known are parasites on planthopper nymphs of the families Achilidae and Cixiidae. There is debate regarding the status of the genus named Ampulicomorpha by Ashmead in 1893, generally considered now to be a junior synonym of Embolemus (e.g.,), though some authorities dispute this (e.g.,)

<i>Pachycondyla succinea</i> Extinct species of ant

Pachycondyla succinea is an extinct species of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. P. petrosa is one of three middle Eocene Pachycondyla species found in Baltic amber.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 LaPolla, J.S.; Dlussky, G.M. (2010). "Review of fossil Prenolepis genus-group species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 112 (2): 258–273. doi:10.4289/0013-8797-112.2.258. S2CID   86102815.
  2. 1 2 Wheeler, W. M. (1915). "The ants of the Baltic amber" (PDF). Schriften der Physikalisch-Okonomischen Gesellschaft zu Konigsberg. 55 (4): 55–56.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dlussky, G. M.; Rasnitsyn, A. P. (2009). "Ants (Insecta: Vespida: Formicidae) in the Upper Eocene Amber of Central and Eastern Europe" (PDF). Paleontological Journal. 43 (9): 1024–1042. doi:10.1134/S0031030109090056. S2CID   84191149.
  4. ↑ Perkovsky, E. E. (2016). "Tropical and Holarctic ants in Late Eocene ambers". Vestnik Zoologii. 50 (2): 116. doi: 10.1515/vzoo-2016-0014 .
  5. 1 2 Weitschat, W.; Wichard, W. (2010). "Chapter 6: Baltic amber". In Penney, D. (ed.). Biodiversity of Fossils in Amber from the Major World Deposits. Siri Scientific Press. pp. 80–115. ISBN   978-0-9558636-4-6.
  6. ↑ Henderickx, H.; Tafforeau, P.; Soriano, C (2012). "Phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography reveals the morphology of a partially visible new Pseudogarypus in Baltic amber (Pseudoscorpiones: Pseudogarypidae)". Palaeontologia Electronica. 15 (2, 17A, 11p): 1–11.
  7. ↑ Engel, MS; Perkovsky, EE (2006). "An Eocene Bee in Rovno Amber, Ukraine (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (3506): 1–22. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.619.5644 . doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2006)506[0001:aebira]2.0.co;2. S2CID   84073810.
  8. ↑ Szwedo, J; Sontag, E (2013). "The flies (Diptera) say that amber from the Gulf of Gdańsk, Bitterfeld and Rovno is the same Baltic amber". Polish Journal of Entomology. 82 (4): 379–388. doi: 10.2478/pjen-2013-0001 .
  9. ↑ Mayr, G. (1868). "Die Ameisen des baltischen Bernsteins". Beiträge zur Naturkunde Preussens. 1: 72. hdl: 2027/hvd.32044107210734 .
  10. ↑ Perkovsky, E. E. (2011). "Syninclusions of the Eocene winter ant Prenolepis henshei (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Germaraphis aphids (Hemiptera: Eriosomatidae) in Late Eocene Baltic and Rovno amber: some implications". Russian Entomological Journal. 20 (3): 303–313. doi: 10.15298/rusentj.20.3.15 .
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