Iridomyrmex shandongicus

†Iridomyrmex shandongicus Temporal range: Early Miocene K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl ↓ Shanwang, China
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dolichoderinae
Tribe:	Leptomyrmecini
Genus:	Iridomyrmex
Species:	†I. shandongicus
Binomial name
†Iridomyrmex shandongicus Zhang, J., 1989

Of all the fossils thus far placed within Iridomyrmex, this is the only one with strong support. While Zhang’s (1989) figures are simple line drawings with minimal detail, the shape of the mandibles as well as the wing venation is consistent with extant species within the genus. Critical details such as the configuration of the anterior clypeal margin are unfortunately missing, and the location of the compound eye is slightly anterior of what might be expected, but in general, the placement of this species within Iridomyrmex seems plausible and is accepted by Heterick and Shattuck (2011).

Distribution

This taxon was described from Shanwang, China (Early Miocene).

Nomenclature

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

• †shandongicus. †Iridomyrmex shandongicus Zhang, 1989: 278, fig. 280 (m.) CHINA (Miocene). Unidentifiable taxon, incertae sedis in Iridomyrmex: Heterick & Shattuck, 2011: 168.

References

• Zhang, J. 1989. Fossil insects from Shanwang, Shandong, China. Jinan, China: Shandong Science and Technology Publishing House, 459 pp. (page 278, fig. 280 male described)