Category: Formicidae

Belongs within: Formicidae.Contains: Ponera, Leptogenys, Anochetus, Odontomachus, Hypoponera, Pachycondyla. The Ponerinae are a group of stinging ants in which the antennal toruli (sockets) have become fused to the frontal lobe. The outer margins of the frontal lobe are convergent posteriad in genera other than Platythyrea; Platythyrea also differs from other ponerines in having a broad clypeal… Continue reading Ponerinae

Belongs within: Formicidae. The Proceratiinae are a group of small ants characterised by fully or nearly fully exposed antennal sockets close to the anterior margin of the head, together with a single petiolar segment and a fused promesonotal suture. Members of the tribe Proceratiini also have the fourth abdominal tergite much enlarged and strongly arched… Continue reading Proceratiinae

Belongs within: Formicidae.Contains: Aphaenogaster, Messor, Myrmica, Oligomyrmex, Epopostrumiti, Solenopsidini, Leptothorax, Formicoxenini, Temnothorax, Monomorium, Cardiocondyla, Meranoplini, Stenammini, Tetramorium, Strumigeniti, Pheidole, Attini, Orectognathus. The Myrmicinae are a large clade of often smaller ants including nearly half of the world’s ant genera. They are distinguished by the possession of a two-segmented waist of petiole and postpetiole, and fusion of the… Continue reading Myrmicinae

Belongs within: Myrmicinae. Aphaenogaster, the funnel ants, is a genus of medium-sized, gracile ants whose members build distinctive nests, comprising a deep wide entrance tunnel surrounded by a pile of loose dirt. They are distinguished by a twelve-segmented antenna with a loose four-segmented club (Heterick 2009). A number of species have the head posteriorly produced… Continue reading Aphaenogaster

Belongs within: Myrmicinae. Myrmica is a genus of generalist ants found in Eurasia and North America. The mesosoma retains a moderately distinct mesoepinotal suture and is armed with spines or teeth on the epinotum (Wheeler & Wheeler 1990). Notable species include the European fire ant Myrmica rubra, which is native to Europe but has also… Continue reading Myrmica

Belongs within: Myrmicinae. Pheidole, the big-headed ants, is a diverse genus of ants with a clear division in colonies between major and minor workers. The minor workers are usually the more active and most likely to be involved in foraging, with the major workers often specialising in carrying larger or harder food items. The coastal… Continue reading Pheidole

Belongs within: Myrmicinae. Monomorium is a cosmopolitan genus of small ants, most diverse in the Old World tropics with relatively few species native to the Americas. Colonies are often polygynous and may possess either winged or ergatoid queens or a combination of both. Despite their small size, a number of species of Monomorium are significant… Continue reading Monomorium

Belongs within: Formicidae.Contains: Lasiini, Melophorini, Formicini, Camponotini, Plagiolepidini. The Formicinae is a clade of ants characterised by the presence of an acidipore, a circular or semicircular terminal opening on the gaster in place of the reduced sting that is often fringed with hairs (Wheeler & Wheeler 1990). The acidopore is used to secret and/or spray… Continue reading Formicinae