Zigrasimeciinae is a subfamily of
ants, known from the
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...
period, originally named as the tribe Zigrasimeciini within the subfamily
Sphecomyrminae by Borysenko, 2017,
it was elevated to full subfamily in 2020. It contains three described genera. They are sometimes known as iron-maiden ants in reference to their densely spiked mouthparts, reminiscent of an
iron maiden torture device, that were likely used to trap prey.
''
Boltonimecia canadensis'' was described from
Campanian
The Campanian is the fifth of six ages of the Late Cretaceous epoch on the geologic timescale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). In chronostratigraphy, it is the fifth of six stages in the Upper Cretaceous Series. Campa ...
Canadian amber out of Alberta, Canada, while the species of ''
Protozigrasimecia'' and ''
Zigrasimecia'' are both exclusively known from
Cenomanian
The Cenomanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age (geology), age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or the lowest stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Cretace ...
Burmese amber
Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. Th ...
found in Myanmar.
Genera and species
* ''
Boltonimecia'' ?
** ''B. canadensis''
*''
Protozigrasimecia''
** ''P. chauli''
* ''
Zigrasimecia''
** ''Z. boudinoti''
** ''Z. caohuijiae''
[
** ''Z. chuyangsui'' ][
** ''Z. ferox''
** ''Z. goldingot'' ][
** ''Z. thate'' ][
** ''Z. tonsora''
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q110078439
Ants
Ant subfamilies