''Pogonomyrmex fossilis'' is an extinct ant species which lived during the

Eocene The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...

34 million years ago. The species built nests primarily destined to store seeds and grains as winter stock. The ant has an average length of six millimeter and an average width of 1.2 millimeters. The first fossil was found in the American state of

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

and the species was discovered and described by Carpenter in 1930. In 2003 ''Pogonomyrmex fossilis'' was the oldest described species within the genus ''Pogonomyrmex''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q14440951 †Pogonomyrmex fossilis Fossil ant taxa Insects described in 1930 Eocene insects History of Colorado