Boltonimecia

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Boltonimecia
Temporal range: Campanian, Late Cretaceous Foremost Formation amber, Alberta, Canada
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Zigrasimeciinae
Genus: Boltonimecia
Borysenko, 2017
Type species
Sphecomyrma canadensis, now Boltonimecia canadensis
Diversity
1 fossil species
(Species Checklist)

Identification

Keys including this Genus

 

Distribution

This taxon is known from Foremost Formation amber, Alberta, Canada (Campanian, Late Cretaceous).

Discussion

Cao et al. (2020) - Conclusion: Our study of Zigrasimecia hoelldobleri and Protozigrasimecia chauli reveals both morphological and functional diversity in stem Formicidae. The holotype of Z. hoelldobleri is shockingly well-preserved for light microscopy, and has yielded insights into mandibular, labral, and clypeal function of the Burmese Zigrasimeciini. Based on the interpreted mouthpart function, we colloquially recognize Zigrasimecia and Protozigrasimecia as the iron maiden ants. Among the Zigrasimeciini, we severely doubt that the monotypic genus Boltonimecia from Canadian amber is correct to include, and recommend revised study. In summary, there are ample opportunities for discovery, characterization, and evolutionary analyses of the Zigrasimeciini, which we have attempted to facilitate through the present work.

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • BOLTONIMECIA [†Zigrasimeciinae]
    • Boltonimecia Borysenko, 2017: 3. Type-species: †Sphecomyrma canadensis, by original designation.

Taxonomic history

  • Boltonimecia in †Sphecomyrminae, †Zigrasimeciini: Borysenko, 2017: 3, 18.

References