Protomyrmica atavia, Dlussky & Radchenko, 2009

Dlussky, Gennady M. & Radchenko, Alexander G., 2009, Two new primitive ant genera from the late Eocene European ambers, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 54 (3), pp. 435-441 : 437

Protomyrmica atavia sp. nov.

Fig. 1.

Etymology: From Latin atavus —ancestor, which means presence of the many primitive morphological features in this species.

Holotype: NHM In. 65422 (the label says: “ Königsberg, E Prussia, purchased W. Kuhne, 1971, MNH Paleontol.Dept. In. 65422”), male, complete specimen.

Type locality: Unknown locality in the vicinity of Kalliningrad, Russia formely Königsberg in E Prussia, Germany.

Type horizon: Baltic Amber, late Eocene.

Diagnosis.—As for genus.

Description.—Total length: ca. 4–4.5 mm. The new species is characterised by the following features: head ca. 1.3 times longer than broad, steeply rounded above the eyes, occipital corners not marked. Eyes big, their maximal diameter ca. 2.5 times smaller than length of head, situated somewhat in front of sides of head, genae short, ca. 1.5 times longer than diameter of the scape. Ocelli well developed though not very big. Scape shorter than the length of each of the 2 nd to 4 th funicular segments. First funicular segment not globular, ca. 1.3 times longer than broad; subsequent segments elongated, cylindrical, apical segment is the shortest, length of the 2 nd to 12 th funicular segments are 0.28, 0.25, 0.23, 0.20, 0.18, 0.16, 0.15, 0.13, 0.13, 0.13, 0.10 mm. Maxillary and labial palps are invisible. Mesosoma relatively long, scutum slightly convex (seen in profile). Dorsal surface of propodeum declined posteriorly, shorter than its declivitous face, propodeal lobes rounded. Scutum wide (in dorsal view), only ca. 1.25 times longer than length of scutum and scutellum. Shape of petiole and postpetiole barely visible, but petiole seems quite big and massive, with relatively short peduncle, its anterior face not steep and almost straight, node widely rounded dorsally; postpetiole also big and massive, not lower than the petiole, subglobular. Pygidium and genitalia are invisible. Legs quite long and slender. Frontal carinae well developed, quite coarse, running posteriorly approximately to the level of central ocellus; frons additionally with distinct, coarse longitudinal median carina. Head dorsum finely longitudinally striato−rugulose. Scutum and scutellum smooth, mesopleura generally smooth, only partly with very fine short striation; sides of propodeum longitudinally rugulose. Sculpture of petiole and postpetiole barely visible, though they seem to be quite smooth (at least without coarse sculpture). Gaster smooth and shiny. Head and mesosoma with abundant, often very long and curved, fine standing hairs. Legs with long hairs, longest hairs much longer than maximal diameter of leg’s segments. Forewing: cell 3r long, more than 5 times longer than wide. Vein section 4RS is about as long as cross−vein rs−m. Vein section 1RS very short, much shorter than the vein section 1M. Cell rm 2.4 times longer than wide. Workers and queens are unknown.

Dimensions and indices.—HL = 0.73, HW = 0.55, SL = 0.20, OL = 0.31, AL = 1.40, AH = 0.75, SCL = 0.78, SCW = 0.63, HTL = 0.85 mm; CI = 1.32, SI 1 = 0.28, SI 2 = 0.36, OI 1 = 0.43, OI 2 = 0.57, AI = 1.87, SCI = 1.24; Icu = 1.4; Icua = 1.17.