#  MCZ Lunchtime Seminar 

 



    ![a painting of a tree trunk with an ant trapped in dripping amber and an ant holding a light saber](/sites/g/files/omnuum6431/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-04/reconstitution%20star%20wars.jpg?h=375b775c&itok=DjiCgCSr) 

 



 

####  calendar\_today Date and Time 

 **May 4, 2026** 

 12:00PM - 01:00PM EDT 

####  pin\_drop Location 

 **MCZ 101A, Robert A. Gilbert Room**  



 

 



 

## A long time ago not so far, far away... The ants from Miocene Dominican Republic

**Valentine Bouju**  
Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellow  
Farrell Lab

On Hispaniola, ants have been an essential part of forest ecosystems for a long time, as evidenced by the 15-million-year-old amber record. The exceptional and unparalleled preservation of fine morphological structures in resin allows for the study of past biodiversity, from taxonomic, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives. The MCZ houses the world’s largest collection of Dominican amber ants. This talk will illustrate how its study reveals events of extinction, migration, or renewal, offering insights into how ants responded to environmental changes.

May the 4th is Star Wars Day. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to present this study through the unexpected lens of the beloved Star Wars universe. It may or may not surprise you, but there are many ways to do this, and this will be one of them....



 

 



 

 

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