Protaneuretus succineus

†Protaneuretus succineus 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:	Aneuretinae
Genus:	Protaneuretus
Species:	†P. succineus
Binomial name
†Protaneuretus succineus Wheeler, W.M., 1915

Photo Gallery

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  Radchenko & Khomych (2022), Figure 1. Photograph of Protaneuretus succineus: (A) worker (collection number F-200, Rovno amber), body in lateral view; (B) queen (Baltic amber), body in lateral view (A photo A. Radchenko; B photo from archive of G.M. Dlussky).

Identification

Dubovikoff et al. 2020:

Protaneuretus succineus - Size greater than 5 mm. Pubescence abundant (including on limbs). Main surface of propodeum noticeably longer than the sloping surface. Propodeum spines acute and directed upward.

Protaneuretus mirabilis - Size smaller. Pubescence sparse, absent on scape and limbs. Main surface of propodeum the same size as sloping surface. Propodeum spines obtuse, node-shaped, directed backwards.

Differences between workers of Protaneuretus succineus and Paraneuretus tornquisti (based on Wheeler (1915), with additions by Radchenko & Khomych (2022))

Protaneuretus succineus	Paraneuretus tornquisti
Propodeum slightly convex, with two short sharp teeth, directed upward	Propodeum inflated and gradually rounded, without teeth
Antennal scape shorter than head (SL < HL)	Antennal scape longer than head (SL > HL)
Entire body, including scapes and legs, with abundant long erect hairs	Head and mesosoma with sparse erect hairs; all gastral sternites and tergites, starting from third, with abundant long erect hairs; petiole, scapes and legs (except coxae) without hairs
Mesopleurae and sides of propodeum with longitudinal rugae, propodeal dorsum with transverse rugosity	Entire body smooth
Helcium attached on the middle of anterior face of first gastral segment	Helcium attached high on anterior face of first gastral segment

Distribution

This taxon was described from Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Priabonian, Late Eocene) and is known from Rovno amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Priabonian, Late Eocene) (Radchenko & Khomych, 2022).

Nomenclature

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

• †succineus. †Protaneuretus succineus Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 72, fig. 31 (w.q.) BALTIC AMBER (Eocene).

References

• Dubovikoff, D.A., Dlussky, G.M., Perkovsky, E.E., Abakumov, E.V. 2020. A new species of the genus Protaneuretus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Bitterfeld amber (Late Eocene), with a key to the species of the genus. Paleontological Journal 54:389-391 (doi:10.1134/S003103012004005X).
• Radchenko, A., Khomych, M. 2022. First records of aneuretine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Aneuretinae) in late Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine). Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 65 (2): 69–80 (doi:10.3897/travaux.65.e85206).
• Wheeler, W.M. 1915i. The ants of the Baltic Amber. Schriften der Physikalisch-Ökonomischen Gesellschaft zu Königsberg 55: 1-142. (page 72, fig. 31 worker, queen described)