Myrmicinae Explained

Myrmicinae should not be confused with Myrmeciinae.

Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and in soil, rotting wood, under stones, or in trees.[1]

Identification

Myrmicine worker ants have a distinct postpetiole, i.e., abdominal segment III is notably smaller than segment IV and set off from it by a well-developed constriction; the pronotum is inflexibly fused to the rest of the mesosoma, such that the promesonotal suture is weakly impressed or absent, and a functional sting is usually present. The clypeus is well-developed; as a result, the antennal sockets are well separated from the anterior margin of the head. Most myrmicine genera possess well-developed eyes and frontal lobes that partly conceal the antennal insertions.

Tribes

Recently, the number of tribes was reduced from 25 to six:[2]

Genera

In 2014, most genera were placed into different tribes or moved to other subfamilies. Below is an updated list:[2]

Notes and References

  1. Goulet, H & Huber, JT (eds.) (1993) Hymenoptera of the world: an identification guide to families. Agriculture Canada. p. 224
  2. Ward. Philip S.. Brady. Sean G.. Fisher. Brian L.. Schultz. Ted R.. The evolution of myrmicine ants: phylogeny and biogeography of a hyperdiverse ant clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology. July 2014. 40. 1 . 61–81. 10.1111/syen.12090. 83986771. 1365-3113.

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