Formica trigona

†Formica trigona Temporal range: Priabonian, Late Eocene K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Formicini
Genus:	Formica
Species:	†F. trigona
Binomial name
†Formica trigona Presl, 1822

Radchenko et al. (2021) question the placement of this taxon within the genus Formica. They note that F. trigona is too small for Formica (ca. 2.5 mm) with a triangular head (“Caput trigonium”) and long antennae (“antennae longitudine capitis et thoracis”). These features raise doubts that this species should even be included to the family Formicidae.

Distribution

This taxon was described from Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Priabonian, Late Eocene).

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• †trigona. †Formica trigona Presl, 1822: 198 (no caste given) BALTIC AMBER (Eocene).

References

• Presl, J. S. 1822. Additamenta ad faunam protogaem, sistens descriptiones aliquat animalium in succino inclusorum. Pp. 191-210 in: Presl, J. S., Presl, K. B. Deliciae Pragenses, historiam naturalem spectantes. Tome 1. Pragae: Calve, 244 pp. (page 198, no caste given)
• Radchenko, A.G., Perkovsky, E.E., Vasilenko, D.V. 2021. Formica species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) in late Eocene Rovno amber. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 82, 237–251 (doi:10.3897/jhr.82.64599).