Iridomyrmex shandongicus Zhang

Heterick, Brian E. & Shattuck, Steve, 2011, Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 2845, Zootaxa 2845 (1), pp. 1-174 : 168

Iridomyrmex shandongicus Zhang

Iridomyrmex shandongicus Zhang, 1989: 278 .

Types. Holotype queen from China (Miocene).

Comments. Of all the fossils thus far placed within Iridomyrmex , this is the only one with strong support. While Zhang’s (1989) figures are simple line drawings with minimal detail, the shape of the mandibles as well as the wing venation is consistent with extant species within the genus. Critical details such as the configuration of the anterior clypeal margin are unfortunately missing, and the location of the compound eye is slightly anterior of what might be expected, but in general, the placement of this species within Iridomyrmex seems plausible and is accepted in this study.