Oecophylla megarche

Introduction

Oecophylla megarche is an extinct weaver ant known from Late Eocene fossils, approximately 33-34 million years ago. Specimens were found in the Bembridge Marls on the Isle of Wight, Great Britain . Females had forewing lengths of 20-24 mm, indicating a large size compared to modern ants . Only wings and body fragments are preserved, so this species is known only through paleontological study. This species coexisted with Oecophylla atavina in the same deposits, with significant size differences suggesting they occupied different ecological niches .