Origins
The oldest fossil remains of modern ants is preserved in amber and has been dated by radioactive isotopes to be approximately 80 million years old. It has many of the characteristics of modern ants while also presenting many characteristics of the ant's distant relative, the nonsocial aculeate wasp. Like modern ants, the fossil contains the metapleural gland, petiole turning down towards the gastor, and a relatively small thorax without wings.
The fossil contains the following wasp like characteristics: short mandibles with only two teeth, stinger that can be extruded, unconstricted gastor, and double tibial spurs. The fossil antennae have a short first segment and a long flexible segmented structure for the rest of the antennae. This antennae combines both wasp and ant features. An early Cretaceous fossil that may be an ant has been discovered. Unfortunately, the gastor has been folded back over the thorax, thereby restricting the view of the petiole. It is a less well preserved specimen, and, therefore, scientists are uncertain as to its' morphology.
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Science Education Connection Department of Biochemistry The University of Arizona Tuesday, April 29, 1997 warder@u.arizona.edu
http://biology.arizona.edu/sciconn/lessons/shindelman/ |