Modern estimates place ants at around 140 - 168 million years ago. This estimate is based or fossil record and a large molecular dataset which allows for the inference of ant age by evolutionary radiation.
Ants only began to diversify when flowering plants arose, around 100 million years ago, gaining ecological dominance around 60 million years ago. An 80 million year old ant (Wphecomyrma freyi) was recovered trapped in amber and has both modern ant and modern wasp features.
The oldest surviving ant subfamily is the little known Leptanillinae with the poneroids (predatory hunting ants) most closely resembling the common ancestor.
Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors.
Tags: Frequently Asked Question | Evolution
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