Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants

A previously unknown soldier of the genus Drymomyrmex Wheeler, 1915 is described. This find confirms the dimorphism of the worker caste of this genus, represents the oldest known soldier among ants, and confirms the phragmotic morphology and behaviour of ants in the Late Eocene. The putative life st...

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Date:2025
Main Authors: Radchenko, A. G., Ribbecke, H.-W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Publishing House "Akademperiodyka" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2025
Online Access:https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/886
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Journal Zoodiversity
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author Radchenko, A. G.
Ribbecke, H.-W.
author_facet Radchenko, A. G.
Ribbecke, H.-W.
author_sort Radchenko, A. G.
baseUrl_str
collection OJS
datestamp_date 2026-02-25T20:46:32Z
description A previously unknown soldier of the genus Drymomyrmex Wheeler, 1915 is described. This find confirms the dimorphism of the worker caste of this genus, represents the oldest known soldier among ants, and confirms the phragmotic morphology and behaviour of ants in the Late Eocene. The putative life style of the Drymomyrmex species and the taxonomic position of this genus are discussed. We propose to assign Drymomyrmex to the tribe Lasiini, in particular to the Cladomyrma Wheeler, 1920 group.
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spelling zoodiv-article-8862026-02-25T20:46:32Z Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants Radchenko, A. G. Ribbecke, H.-W. Baltic amber Priabonian Lasiini Drymomyrmex Cladomyrma caste dimorphism A previously unknown soldier of the genus Drymomyrmex Wheeler, 1915 is described. This find confirms the dimorphism of the worker caste of this genus, represents the oldest known soldier among ants, and confirms the phragmotic morphology and behaviour of ants in the Late Eocene. The putative life style of the Drymomyrmex species and the taxonomic position of this genus are discussed. We propose to assign Drymomyrmex to the tribe Lasiini, in particular to the Cladomyrma Wheeler, 1920 group. Publishing House "Akademperiodyka" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2025-12-17 Article Article application/pdf https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/886 10.15407/zoo2026.01.079 Zoodiversity; Vol. 60 No. 1 (2026): Zoodiversity Zoodiversity (Vestnik Zoologii); Том 60 № 1 (2026): Zoodiversity 2707-7268 2707-725X 10.15407/zoo2026.01 en https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/886/369 Copyright (c) 2025 A. G. Radchenko, H.-W. Ribbecke
spellingShingle Radchenko, A. G.
Ribbecke, H.-W.
Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants
title Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants
title_full Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants
title_fullStr Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants
title_full_unstemmed Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants
title_short Discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus Drymomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in Late Eocene ants
title_sort discovery of a soldier of the fossil genus drymomyrmex (hymenoptera, formicidae, formicinae) supports phragmotic behaviour in late eocene ants
topic_facet Baltic amber
Priabonian
Lasiini
Drymomyrmex
Cladomyrma
caste dimorphism
url https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/886
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AT ribbeckehw discoveryofasoldierofthefossilgenusdrymomyrmexhymenopteraformicidaeformicinaesupportsphragmoticbehaviourinlateeoceneants