Electromyrmex

Wheeler (1915) established a fossil myrmicine ant genus Electromyrmex from the Late Eocene Baltic amber (Priabonian stage, 33.9–37.2 Ma), based on the species Electromyrmex klebsi. The single worker of this species, believed lost (A. Gehler, pers. comm., 2017), is morphologically peculiar and can be easily recognized based on the description and Wheeler's figure (1915, fig. 21). It is characterized primarily by the slender body, big and convex eyes situated very closely to the anterior head margin so that the genae are extremely short, long and narrow mandibles with serrate masticatory margin, slender, subcylindrical petiole without a distinct node, etc. Wheeler (1915: 56) emphasized: “This singular ant is so unlike any of the recent species … in the structure of its mandibles, thorax and petiole that it evidently deserves to rank as the type of a new genus”. (Radchenko & Dlussky 2018)

Identification
Radchenko & Dlussky (2018) - Morphologically peculiar and easily recognized based on the description of the Electromyrmex klebsi worker: (Wheeler 1915) characterized primarily by the slender body, big and convex eyes situated very closely to the anterior head margin so that the genae are extremely short, long and narrow mandibles with serrate masticatory margin, slender, subcylindrical petiole without a distinct node, etc.

The males of Electromyrmex wheeleri  share several characters with some modern Myrmicinae genera: resembling Aphaenogaster, Messor and Pheidole by the forewing venation, but differing from the first two genera by the presence of Mayrian furrows, and from the latter by the antennal structure. Additionally, males of E. wheeleri have a set of specialized characters, e. g., subcylindrical petiole, mandible with an only single apical tooth, and quite peculiar shape of mesosoma.

Distribution
This taxon is known from and.

Nomenclature

 * † ELECTROMYRMEX [incertae sedis in Myrmicinae]
 * †Electromyrmex Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 164 (by indication). Type-species: †Electromyrmex klebsi, by monotypy.
 * [†Electromyrmex Wheeler, W.M. 1908g: 413. Nomen nudum. †Electromyrmex also described as new by Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 55.]