Scientists discovered a 16-million-year-old fossil of a dirt ant, *Basiceros enana*, preserved in Dominican amber. This is the first Caribbean fossil of its kind, revealing the previously unknown presence of dirt ants on the islands before their local extinction millions of years ago. The remarkably preserved specimen, smaller than its modern relatives, displays the same camouflage adaptations—specialized hairs for blending with soil and leaf litter—seen in living dirt ants. This discovery, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, sheds light on the evolutionary history and extinction patterns of this ant group, highlighting the importance of studying fossils to understand modern biodiversity.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.