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Palaeontology

Huge prehistoric ants thrived in hot climate

By T.K. Randall
May 5, 2011 · Comment icon 20 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu
The fossil of a giant ant that would have been the size of a hummingbird has been discovered.
Little is known of this giant species of ant other than that they would have migrated with the periods of extreme heat during the Eocene Era. Only a fossil queen has been discovered so far, with experts estimating that the workers may have been just as large, if not larger.
A giant ant growing over 5cm (2in) long crossed the Arctic during hot periods in the Earth's history, scientists say, using land bridges between continents. The ant, named Titanomyrma lubei, lived about 50 million years ago and is one of the largest ant species ever found.


Source: BBC News | Comments (20)




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Comment icon #11 Posted by danielost 13 years ago
Where did you get that from? It's not in the link you posted and I'm sure we'd all be interested to read more about this piece of info. i got it from a doc. on tv, and i know it isnt in the link. i just tried cucumber and sausage worms. sorry i just dont recall.
Comment icon #12 Posted by Still Waters 13 years ago
i got it from a doc. on tv, and i know it isnt in the link. i just tried cucumber and sausage worms. sorry i just dont recall. That's a shame. I've never heard of 'prince' ants before, maybe someone else looking at this thread has? "just tried cucumber and sausage worms". What do you mean, and what does that have to do with this topic?
Comment icon #13 Posted by danielost 13 years ago
That's a shame. I've never heard of 'prince' ants before, maybe someone else looking at this thread has? "just tried cucumber and sausage worms". What do you mean, and what does that have to do with this topic? i was trying to find the large male ant, but i cant remember the name. i thought it was one of those. as for prince ants, i have always called them prince and princess because that is the way i learned it. seems they have changed the terms to males and virgin queens.
Comment icon #14 Posted by Still Waters 13 years ago
i just tried cucumber and sausage worms. sorry i just dont recall. i was trying to find the large male ant, but i cant remember the name. i thought it was one of those. I think I've just found it! Male driver ants, sometimes known as "sausage flies" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorylus Is that the name you were thinking of?
Comment icon #15 Posted by marcos anthony toledo 13 years ago
One wonders with global warming what new territories the modern giant ants will move into in the future and what problems they will cause.
Comment icon #16 Posted by Abramelin 13 years ago
I remember I once started a thread, "Kerguelen...", about a submerged mini-continent the size of 3 times Japan in the southern Indian Ocean (20+ millions of years ago). I suggested at some moment that if there was ever an ancient and unknown civilization back then, it may well have been one by giant insects/termites/ants. Just a fantasy, though, and don't worry about my mental health, lol. Heh, and when I read "army ants", I always think of this video by Rammstein (and don't forget the part after 2:18 seconds): +++++++ EDIT: It was actually in another thread I talked about some insect civiliza... [More]
Comment icon #17 Posted by danielost 13 years ago
I think I've just found it! Male driver ants, sometimes known as "sausage flies" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorylus Is that the name you were thinking of? yes it is thanks.
Comment icon #18 Posted by danielost 13 years ago
One wonders with global warming what new territories the modern giant ants will move into in the future and what problems they will cause. a single ant colony in europe has taken over. they say it is a single colony because the ants from different colonies react as if they are from the same one.
Comment icon #19 Posted by bulveye 13 years ago
^^ biggest ants I've ever seen were these, they seem bigger when you stand on their nest outside your caravan whilst trying to have a wee in the middle of the night!!!
Comment icon #20 Posted by SolarPlexus 13 years ago
Add them to the list !


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