Oecophylla eckfeldiana

Introduction

Oecophylla eckfeldiana is an extinct weaver ant known only from fossils in Middle Eocene deposits at Eckfeld, Germany, dated to about 44 million years ago . This ancient ant shows the first adaptations for life in forest canopies, such as longer legs and antennae, and a petiole built to let workers raise their gasters for silk production . Queens were 10–14 mm long, minor workers around 5 mm, and major workers had heads about 1.3 mm wide . It made up about 15% of all ant fossils in the Eckfeld site, so it was a common part of that ancient forest . Because it’s only known from fossils, this species cannot be kept in captivity – no living colonies exist. Studying its fossils helps us understand how weaver ants evolved their unique leaf‑nesting behavior.