Ants of the Genus Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Late Eocene European Ambers

A taxonomic review of the genus Aphaenogaster Mayr, 1853 from late Eocene European ambers is presented. A new species, A. khomychi sp. nov., is described from Rovno amber; it is distinguished from all amber Aphaenogaster species by the less coarse body sculpture; in addition, it differs from A. sommerfeldti Mayr, 1868 and A. ribbeckei Radchenko, 2024 by the shape of the mesonotal dorsum, which does not rise above the pronotal dorsum; from A. antiqua Dlussky, 2002 by the longer scape and funicular segments; from A. oligocenica Wheeler, 1915 by the longer and sharper propodeal spines. The neotype of A. mersa Wheeler, 1915 is designated, and a queen and a gyne of A. sommerfeldti Mayr, 1868 are described for the first time, including the first description of forewing venation in Eocene Aphaenogaster. A review of the seven known Aphaenogaster species from these ambers is presented, a key to their identification is compiled, and the morphology of fossil Aphaenogaster species is discussed.