First records of aneuretine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Aneuretinae) in late Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine)

Aneuretinae is an enigmatic ant subfamily with poorly defined morphological boundaries. Aneuretus simoni Emery, 1893, found only in Sri Lanka, a “living fossil”, the known extant species of Aneuretinae. In distant past, however, was more diverse and widespread, including eight extinct genera spread across North America, Europe, Russian Far East. Here, we report two fossil species, Protaneuretus succineus Wheeler, 1915 Paraneuretus tornquisti 1915, late Eocene (Priabonian, 37.8–33.9 Ma) Rovno amber (Ukraine), providing distinguishing features measurements. These first recorded amber, were originally described from Baltic similar Priabonian age. new records raise number reported ants to 77 39 9 subfamilies, indicate that distributed both on northern southern coasts Paratethys. Fossil evidence suggests originated Northern Hemisphere entered India Lanka after Indian subcontinent collided Asia ~59 Ma. Why survived present remains mystery.