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Myrmicinae
| Myrmicinae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mesostruma exolympica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835 |
| Diversity | |
| 148 genera 7,898 species 41 fossil genera 204 fossil species | |
This is the largest subfamily in Australia, based on both the number of genera and the number of species. Myrmicines range greatly in size, with the smallest about 1 mm long and the largest up to 10 mm. While many species are generalist predators, some specialise on selected soft-bodied invertebrates such as Collembola and others are important seed harvesters. Workers can be found foraging at all times of the day and night, sometimes in large numbers. Nests can be found in almost any suitable location from deep in the soil to the upper branches of trees. Colonies are generally small with a few hundred to a few thousand workers, although some species can have huge nests with many thousands of workers while others form very small nests with fewer than 50 individuals.
Morphologically, these ants are very diverse. Many groups are highly modified with unusual mandibles, elongate spines, elaborate hairs or unique structures not seen in any other ants. Because of this, many genera are relatively easy to identify as they have highly distinctive features which are easily seen (given the appropriate magnification). At the same time, some genera are much less specialised or modified, and separating these from close relatives can be difficult. In these cases, close inspection of subtle differences may be required.
Myrmicines occur throughout the world in all major habitats (except arctic and antarctic regions). They are the largest subfamily of ants with over 6700 species and subspecies and 155 genera. Australia has over 350 species placed in 38 genera. Eight of the genera are restricted to Australia.
Identification
The mesosoma is attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole and postpetiole. The mandibles are generally triangular, but if they are elongate then there are no teeth along the inner margin and they are attached near the middle of the front margin of the head. The eyes are almost always present, conspicuous and with many facets but are absent in a few species. The frontal lobes are always present and expanded towards the sides so they cover the inner part of the antennal bases where they are inserted into the head when viewed from the front. The pronotum and mesonotum are fused into a single plate.
Species of myrmicines are most likely to be confused with species of Leptanilla or Tetraponera because of the two segmented petiole. However, both Leptanilla and Tetraponera have the pronotum and mesonotum unfused and with a flexible joint between them, while in all myrmicines these two plates are fused into a single structure.
Boudinot (2015) - Male Myrmicinae are uniquely identified by the strongly petiolated third abdominal segment (postpetiole), axial helcium, 1,1 maximum ventroapical tibial spur count, unvaulted abdominal tergum IV, and presence of propodeal lobes. All myrmicines lack jugal lobes and have posteriorly-situated antennal toruli, but are highly variable otherwise: mandibles fully-developed to nub-like; antenna 8–13-merous; forewing with (0)1–8 eight closed cells; and petiole sessile to long-pedunculate. Some myrmicines, e.g., Adelomyrmex and Acanthognathus, have extremely reduced wing venation similar to Leptanillinae; all myrmicine taxa examined during this study with reduced wing venation have conspicuous propodeal lobes, differentiating them easily from Leptanillinae despite secondary petiolation of abdominal segment III in some leptanillines.
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See images of genera within this subfamily |
Keys including this Subfamily
- Key to Iberian Peninsula Subfamilies
- Key to Australian Ant Subfamilies
- Key to Subfamilies of North America
- Key to Subfamilies, Males
- Key to subfamilies of the Neotropical region
Keys to Genus in this Subfamily
- Key to Eutetramorium group genera
- Key to Australian Genera of Myrmicinae
- Key to Vietnamese Myrmicinae Genera
- Key to North American Genera of Myrmicinae
- Key to Dacetini
- Key to Myrmicinae genera of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province
- Key to Philippine Myrmicinae
- Key to Dacetini 2007
- Key to tribes of Malagasy Myrmicinae (males)
Distribution
Distribution and Species Richness based on AntMaps
Statistics
Extant Taxa
| Tribes | Valid Genera | % World Genera | Invalid Genera | Valid Species/Subsp. | % World Species | Invalid Species/Subsp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 148 | 28.6% | 264 | 7,898 | 51.7% | 2,496 |
Fossil Taxa
| Fossil Genera | % World Fossil Genera | Valid Fossil Species/Subsp. | % World Fossil Species/Subsp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 23.6% | 204 | 22.54% |
Fossils known from: Aix-en-Provence, France (Late Oligocene), Arkansas amber, Malvern, Arkansas, United States (Lutetian, Middle Eocene), Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Bembridge Marls, Isle of Wight, UK (Priabonian, Late Eocene), Bitterfeld amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Bolshaya Svetlovodnaya, Sikhote-Alin, Russia (Priabonian, Late Eocene), Borneo amber (Miocene), Brunn-Vösendorf, Austria (Late Miocene), Brunstatt, Haut-Rhin, France (Early Oligocene), Danish-Scandinavian amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Dominican amber, Dominican Republic (Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Epecuen Formation, Salinas de Hidalgo, La Pampa Prov., Argentina (Huayquerian, Late Miocene), Ethiopian amber (Early Miocene), Florissant, Colorado, United States (Late Eocene), Fushun amber, Liaoning, China (Ypresian, Early Eocene), Green River Formation, Colorado, United States (Lutetian, Middle Eocene), Chôjaburu, Iki Island, Japan (Middle Miocene), Khronya Cape, Kerch, Crimea, Russian Federation (Sarmatian, Upper Miocene), Kishenehn Formation shale, Montana, United States (Lutetian, Middle Eocene), Kleinkems, Germany (Early Oligocene), Mexican amber, Chiapas, Mexico (Middle Miocene), Mokrina (Krottensee), Czechia (Late Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Oeningen, Switzerland (Messinian, Late Miocene), Orapa kimberlitic deposits, Botswana (Turonian, Late Cretaceous), Parschlug, Austria (Serravallian, Miocene), Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada (Early Miocene?), Radoboj, Croatia (Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Rott, Westphalia, Germany (Late Oligocene), Rovno amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Priabonian, Late Eocene), Sakhalin amber, Ukraine (Thanetian, Paleocene), Schossnitz (= Sosnica?), Silesia, Poland (Late Miocene), Shanwang, China (Early Miocene), Sicilian amber, Italy (Late/Upper Miocene), Vishnevaya Balka Creek, Stavropol, Russian Federation (Middle Miocene).
List of Tribes and Genera
Tribes
Extant Genera
Fossil Genera
Notes
Boudinot (2015) - Of all the ant subfamilies, the Myrmicinae will be the grand challenge to understand with respect to males. At the time of writing, 139 valid genera and 6,500 valid species are described. Males of at least 30 genera are unknown, but as generic delimitation is still very active in the Myrmicinae some uncertainty exists for this number. Based on a study of the New World genera (B. Boudinot, in prep.), distinctions between genera may be weak and in many cases genera will have to be keyed multiple times due to variability. The recent subfamily-wide phylogeny of Ward et al. (2015) will contribute significantly to improving the classification of the Myrmicinae.
Biology
Flight Period
Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
Flight Months for Genera within this Subfamily:
Morphology
Karyotype Data
- Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
Known Haploid Counts: 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30.
Haploid Count Details: 10 (Taxon: Meranoplus), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole), 10 (Taxon: Epopostruma), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole fervida), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax andrei), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole fallax), 10 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius holmgreni), 10 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius relictus), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole dentigula), 10 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius iheringi), 10 (Taxon: Tetramorium brevidentatum), 10 (Taxon: Trachymyrmex septentrionalis), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole pallidula), 10 (Taxon: Pheidole pallidula), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax ravouxi), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax stumperi), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax adlerzi), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax algerianus), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax bernardi), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax corsicus), 10 (Taxon: Temnothorax kraussei), 11 (Taxon: Lordomyrma), 11 (Taxon: Monomorium), 11 (Taxon: Monomorium), 11 (Taxon: Monomorium), 11 (Taxon: Solenopsis), 11 (Taxon: Vollenhovia), 11 (Taxon: Formicoxenus provancheri), 11 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster smythiesii), 11 (Taxon: Atta colombica), 11 (Taxon: Amoimyrmex striatus), 11 (Taxon: Temnothorax americanus), 11 (Taxon: Temnothorax flavicornis), 11 (Taxon: Temnothorax sordidulus), 11 (Taxon: Temnothorax rottenbergii), 11 (Taxon: Solenopsis fugax), 11 (Taxon: Leptothorax gredleri), 11 (Taxon: Monomorium pharaonis), 11 (Taxon: Colobostruma alinodis), 11 (Taxon: Orectognathus darlingtoni), 11 (Taxon: Orectognathus versicolor), 11 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster subterranea), 11 (Taxon: Temnothorax exilis), 11 (Taxon: Temnothorax nylanderi), 11 (Taxon: Temnothorax nylanderi), 11 • 16 • 17 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster gibbosa), 12 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 12 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax), 12 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 12 (Taxon: Cyphomyrmex transversus), 12 (Taxon: Strumigenys dohertyi), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax kutteri), 12 (Taxon: Pristomyrmex punctatus), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax longispinosus), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax longispinosus), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax muellerianus), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax interruptus), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax corticalis), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax spinosior), 12 (Taxon: Temnothorax recedens), 13 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 13 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 13 (Taxon: Leptothorax sphagnicola), 13 (Taxon: Tetramorium spinosum), 13 (Taxon: Strumigenys), 13 (Taxon: Leptothorax acervorum), 14 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 14 (Taxon: Myrmicocrypta), 14 (Taxon: Pristomyrmex), 14 (Taxon: Temnothorax), 14 (Taxon: Strongylognathus huberi), 14 (Taxon: Myrmecina americana), 14 (Taxon: Temnothorax mediterraneus), 14 (Taxon: Temnothorax rugatulus), 14 (Taxon: Temnothorax parvulus), 14 (Taxon: Myrmecina graminicola), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium caespitum), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium caespitum), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium caespitum), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium forte), 14 (Taxon: Temnothorax lichtensteini), 15 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 15 (Taxon: Leptothorax faberi), 15 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 15 (Taxon: Mycetophylax conformis), 15 (Taxon: Formicoxenus nitidulus), 16 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 16 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 16 (Taxon: Pheidole), 16 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster senilis), 16 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 16 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster osimenseis), 16 (Taxon: Leptothorax faberi), 16 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex comanche), 16 (Taxon: Solenopsis saevissima), 16 (Taxon: Solenopsis richteri), 16 (Taxon: Solenopsis aurea), 16 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex subnitidus), 16 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex barbatus), 16 (Taxon: Carebara), 16 (Taxon: Solenopsis geminata), 16 (Taxon: Solenopsis geminata), 16 (Taxon: Solenopsis invicta), 16 (Taxon: Temnothorax spinosus), 17 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 17 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 17 (Taxon: Pheidole), 17 (Taxon: Leptothorax retractus), 17 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 17 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa), 17 (Taxon: Leptothorax crassipilis), 17 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster famelica), 17 (Taxon: Pheidole nodus), 17 (Taxon: Pheidole fervens), 17 (Taxon: Leptothorax muscorum), 17 (Taxon: Temnothorax exilis), 17 (Taxon: Temnothorax gredosi), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Carebara sauteri), 18 (Taxon: Leptothorax pocahontas), 18 (Taxon: Leptothorax retractus), 18 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 18 (Taxon: Leptothorax crassipilis), 18 (Taxon: Crematogaster subnuda), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole nodus), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole fervens), 18 (Taxon: Mycetophylax simplex), 18 (Taxon: Temnothorax niger), 18 (Taxon: Leptothorax muscorum), 19 (Taxon: Pheidole nodus), 19 (Taxon: Pheidole fervens), 19 (Taxon: Pheidole fervens), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole nodus), 20 (Taxon: Stenamma westwoodii), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole fervens), 20 (Taxon: Harpagoxenus sublaevis), 21 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 21 (Taxon: Cyphomyrmex transversus), 21 (Taxon: Messor barbarus), 21 (Taxon: Temnothorax luteus), 21 (Taxon: Temnothorax racovitzai), 22 (Taxon: Leptothorax), 22 (Taxon: Cephalotes pusillus), 22 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 22 (Taxon: Messor aciculatus), 22 (Taxon: Myrmica scabrinodis), 22 (Taxon: Leptothorax muscorum), 23 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 23 (Taxon: Apterostigma madidiense), 23 (Taxon: Temnothorax angustulus), 23 (Taxon: Temnothorax duloticus), 23 (Taxon: Myrmica schencki), 23 (Taxon: Myrmica sabuleti), 23 (Taxon: Myrmica rubra), 23 (Taxon: Temnothorax curvispinosus), 23 • 24 • 25 (Taxon: Leptothorax kutteri), 24 (Taxon: Temnothorax duloticus), 24 (Taxon: Myrmica lobicornis), 24 (Taxon: Myrmica sulcinodis), 24 (Taxon: Myrmica ruginodis), 25 (Taxon: Sericomyrmex parvulus), 25 (Taxon: Megalomyrmex incisus), 25 (Taxon: Temnothorax duloticus), 26 (Taxon: Leptothorax pacis), 28 (Taxon: Myrmica sulcinodis), 30 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus), 4 (Taxon: Mycocepurus goeldii), 8 (Taxon: Temnothorax rougeti), 8 (Taxon: Temnothorax albipennis), 8 (Taxon: Temnothorax albipennis), 9 (Taxon: Pheidole), 9 (Taxon: Pheidole), 9 (Taxon: Pheidole), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax), 9 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius urichii), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax schaumii), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax corticalis), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax aveli), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax congruus), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax affinis), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax nigriceps), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax tuberum), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax tuberum), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax unifasciatus), 9 (Taxon: Temnothorax unifasciatus).
Known Diploid Counts: 4, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 61, 62, 66, 70.
Diploid Count Details: 12 (Taxon: Pheidole mus), 14 (Taxon: Mycetarotes carinatus), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium kheperra), 14 (Taxon: Acanthognathus rudis), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium lanuginosum), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium simillimum), 14 (Taxon: Tetramorium walshi), 16 (Taxon: Pheidole), 16 (Taxon: Dacetinops concinnus), 16 (Taxon: Monomorium sahlbergi), 16 (Taxon: Meranoplus bicolor), 16 (Taxon: Strumigenys), 18 (Taxon: Eurhopalothrix), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole soritis), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole woodmasoni), 18 (Taxon: Mayriella abstinens), 18 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius urichii), 18 (Taxon: Pheidole tepicana), 18 (Taxon: Temnothorax congruus), 18 (Taxon: Temnothorax nigriceps), 18 (Taxon: Temnothorax tuberum), 18 (Taxon: Temnothorax unifasciatus), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole), 20 (Taxon: Epopostruma), 20 (Taxon: Cyphomyrmex costatus), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole plagiaria), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole fervida), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole hyatti), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole hortensis), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole fallax), 20 (Taxon: Monomorium orientale), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole capellinii), 20 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius holmgreni), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole subarmata), 20 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius relictus), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole dentigula), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole porcula), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole spininodis), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole desertorum), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole strobeli), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole binghamii), 20 (Taxon: Mycetomoellerius iheringi), 20 (Taxon: Tetramorium brevidentatum), 20 (Taxon: Tetramorium pnyxis), 20 (Taxon: Tetramorium seneb), 20 (Taxon: Trachymyrmex septentrionalis), 20 (Taxon: Basiceros convexiceps), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole indica), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole pallidula), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole pallidula), 20 (Taxon: Pheidole dentata), 21 (Taxon: Pheidole), 21 (Taxon: Monomorium indicum), 22 (Taxon: Chelaner), 22 (Taxon: Lordomyrma), 22 (Taxon: Meranoplus), 22 (Taxon: Meranoplus), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium), 22 (Taxon: Pheidole), 22 (Taxon: Pristomyrmex), 22 (Taxon: Colobostruma), 22 (Taxon: Amoimyrmex silvestrii), 22 (Taxon: Formicoxenus provancheri), 22 (Taxon: Apterostigma steigeri), 22 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster japonica), 22 (Taxon: Atta robusta), 22 (Taxon: Cyphomyrmex cornutus), 22 (Taxon: Atta sexdens), 22 (Taxon: Atta sexdens), 22 (Taxon: Atta sexdens), 22 (Taxon: Amoimyrmex bruchi), 22 (Taxon: Atta laevigata), 22 (Taxon: Atta colombica), 22 (Taxon: Amoimyrmex striatus), 22 (Taxon: Strumigenys doriae), 22 (Taxon: Pheidole germaini), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium rothsteini), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium indicum), 22 (Taxon: Meranoplus minor), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium viridum), 22 (Taxon: Tetramorium guineense), 22 (Taxon: Tetramorium pacificum), 22 (Taxon: Tetramorium insolens), 22 (Taxon: Tetramorium adelphon), 22 (Taxon: Solenopsis fugax), 22 (Taxon: Solenopsis fugax), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium pharaonis), 22 (Taxon: Colobostruma alinodis), 22 (Taxon: Orectognathus darlingtoni), 22 (Taxon: Orectognathus versicolor), 22 (Taxon: Monomorium minimum), 22 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster subterranea), 22 (Taxon: Temnothorax nylanderi), 22 • 34 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster smythiesii), 24 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 24 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 24 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 24 (Taxon: Cyphomyrmex transversus), 24 (Taxon: Crematogaster biroi), 24 (Taxon: Apterostigma madidiense), 24 (Taxon: Chelaner whitei), 24 (Taxon: Apterostigma mayri), 24 (Taxon: Strumigenys dohertyi), 24 (Taxon: Pristomyrmex punctatus), 24 (Taxon: Temnothorax longispinosus), 24 (Taxon: Temnothorax interruptus), 24 (Taxon: Pheidole pallidula), 24 (Taxon: Temnothorax spinosior), 26 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 26 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 26 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 26 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 26 (Taxon: Crematogaster nawai), 26 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 26 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 26 (Taxon: Tetramorium spinosum), 26 (Taxon: Temnothorax rugatulus), 26 (Taxon: Carebara), 26 (Taxon: Tetramorium smithi), 26 (Taxon: Tetramorium smithi), 26 (Taxon: Tetramorium smithi), 26 (Taxon: Leptothorax acervorum), 27 (Taxon: Cardiocondyla minutior), 27 (Taxon: Temnothorax rugatulus), 28 (Taxon: Myrmicocrypta), 28 (Taxon: Pheidole), 28 (Taxon: Formicoxenus chamberlini), 28 (Taxon: Allomerus decemarticulatus), 28 (Taxon: Formicoxenus quebecensis), 28 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 28 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 28 (Taxon: Strongylognathus huberi), 28 (Taxon: Tetramorium eleates), 28 (Taxon: Temnothorax mediterraneus), 28 (Taxon: Tetramorium caespitum), 28 (Taxon: Tetramorium caespitum), 30 (Taxon: Myrmicocrypta), 30 (Taxon: Myrmicocrypta), 30 (Taxon: Pheidole), 30 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster), 30 (Taxon: Cardiocondyla minutior), 30 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 30 (Taxon: Mycetophylax morschi), 30 (Taxon: Mycetophylax conformis), 30 (Taxon: Mycetophylax conformis), 30 (Taxon: Orectognathus clarki), 30 • 46 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster beccarii), 32 (Taxon: Chelaner), 32 (Taxon: Pheidole), 32 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster senilis), 32 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster osimenseis), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex brevispinosus), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex comanche), 32 (Taxon: Solenopsis saevissima), 32 (Taxon: Solenopsis richteri), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex californicus), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex magnacanthus), 32 (Taxon: Proatta butteli), 32 (Taxon: Solenopsis aurea), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex rugosus), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex apache), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex montanus), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex subnitidus), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex barbatus), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex badius), 32 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex desertorum), 32 (Taxon: Wasmannia auropunctata), 32 (Taxon: Wasmannia auropunctata), 32 (Taxon: Carebara), 32 (Taxon: Solenopsis geminata), 32 (Taxon: Solenopsis geminata), 32 (Taxon: Solenopsis geminata), 32 (Taxon: Solenopsis invicta), 33 (Taxon: Vollenhovia), 34 (Taxon: Monomorium), 34 (Taxon: Vollenhovia), 34 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster depilis), 34 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster sardoa), 34 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster tipuna), 34 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 34 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster testaceopilosa), 34 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster famelica), 34 (Taxon: Carebara), 34 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster gibbosa), 34 (Taxon: Monomorium subopacum), 34 (Taxon: Leptothorax muscorum), 36 (Taxon: Pheidole), 36 (Taxon: Vollenhovia), 36 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 36 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster miamiana), 36 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 36 (Taxon: Crematogaster brunnea), 36 (Taxon: Acromyrmex ameliae), 36 (Taxon: Crematogaster subnuda), 36 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex huachucanus), 36 (Taxon: Strumigenys mutica), 36 (Taxon: Mycetophylax simplex), 36 (Taxon: Mycetophylax simplex), 36 (Taxon: Carebara), 36 (Taxon: Carebara), 36 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster fulva), 36 (Taxon: Leptothorax muscorum), 37 (Taxon: Pheidole nodus), 38 (Taxon: Trichomyrmex glaber), 38 (Taxon: Lophomyrmex), 38 (Taxon: Pheidole), 38 (Taxon: Pheidole), 38 (Taxon: Solenopsis), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex echinatior), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex crassispinus), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex crassispinus), 38 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster lamellidens), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex aspersus), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex hispidus), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex nigrosetosus), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex rugosus), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex balzani), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex balzani), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex niger), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex heyeri), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex lundii), 38 (Taxon: Acromyrmex molestans), 38 (Taxon: Pheidole nodus), 38 (Taxon: Pheidole fervens), 38 (Taxon: Lophomyrmex bedoti), 38 (Taxon: Trichomyrmex scabriceps), 38 (Taxon: Carebara), 38 (Taxon: Strumigenys), 39 (Taxon: Pheidole nodus), 4 (Taxon: Strumigenys louisianae), 40 (Taxon: Vollenhovia), 40 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 40 (Taxon: Strumigenys godeffroyi), 40 (Taxon: Strumigenys diabola), 40 (Taxon: Veromessor andrei), 40 (Taxon: Harpagoxenus sublaevis), 41 (Taxon: Messor), 42 (Taxon: Monomorium), 42 (Taxon: Pheidole), 42 (Taxon: Cyphomyrmex transversus), 42 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster treatae), 42 (Taxon: Carebara diversa), 42 (Taxon: Pheidole latinoda), 42 (Taxon: Carebara), 42 (Taxon: Carebara), 44 (Taxon: Carebara asina), 44 (Taxon: Cephalotes pusillus), 44 (Taxon: Leptothorax canadensis), 44 (Taxon: Allomerus octoarticulatus), 44 (Taxon: Messor aciculatus), 44 (Taxon: Strumigenys godeffroyi), 44 (Taxon: Myrmicaria brunnea), 44 (Taxon: Myrmica scabrinodis), 44 (Taxon: Carebara), 44 (Taxon: Carebara), 44 (Taxon: Manica rubida), 44 (Taxon: Leptothorax muscorum), 45 • 46 (Taxon: Aphaenogaster longiceps), 46 (Taxon: Myrmica schencki), 46 (Taxon: Myrmica sabuleti), 46 (Taxon: Myrmica rubra), 48 (Taxon: Myrmica rubra), 48 (Taxon: Myrmica ruginodis), 49 (Taxon: Vollenhovia), 49 (Taxon: Podomyrma adelaidae), 50 (Taxon: Vollenhovia), 50 (Taxon: Crematogaster rothneyi), 50 (Taxon: Sericomyrmex parvulus), 50 (Taxon: Podomyrma adelaidae), 50 (Taxon: Sericomyrmex amabilis), 50 (Taxon: Megalomyrmex incisus), 51 (Taxon: Podomyrma adelaidae), 52 (Taxon: Cardiocondyla wroughtonii), 54 (Taxon: Mycetarotes parallelus), 56 (Taxon: Crematogaster), 56 (Taxon: Myrmica sulcinodis), 58 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus), 60 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus), 61 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus), 62 (Taxon: Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus), 66 (Taxon: Myrmecina), 70 (Taxon: Erromyrma latinodis), 8 (Taxon: Mycocepurus goeldii), 8 (Taxon: Mycocepurus goeldii).
Phylogeny
Formicoidea
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See Phylogeny of Formicidae for details.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- MYRMICINAE [subfamily of Formicidae]
- Myrmicites Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 169. Type-genus: Myrmica Latreille, 1804: 179.
Taxonomic History
- Myrmicinae as group name: Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835: 169 [Myrmicites]; Nylander, 1846a: 877 [Myrmicae].
- Myrmicinae as family: Smith, F. 1851: 4 [Myrmicidae]; Smith, F. 1861b: 45 [Myrmicidae]; Smith, F. 1871a: 324 [Myrmicidae]; André, 1882a: 125 [Myrmicidae]; Cresson, 1887: 93 [Myrmicidae]; Emery, 1894g: 383 [Myrmicidae]; Saunders, 1896: 18 [Myrmicidae]; Ashmead, 1905b: 383 [Myrmicidae]; Novák & Sadil, 1941: 71 [Myrmicidae]; Bernard, 1951: 1058 [Myrmicidae]; Bernard, 1953b: 222 [Myrmicidae].
- Myrmicinae as subfamily of Poneridae: Smith, F. 1858b: 114 [Myrmicidae].
- Myrmicinae as tribe of Formicidae: André, 1874: 167 [Myrmicidae].
- Myrmicinae as subfamily of Myrmicidae: Ashmead, 1905b: 383.
- Myrmicinae as subfamily of Formicidae: Mayr, 1855: 290, 299 [Myrmicidae]; Smith, F. 1857a: 70 [Myrmicidae]; Mayr, 1861: 21 [Myrmicidae]; Smith, F. 1862b: 33 [Myrmicidae]; Mayr, 1862: 738 [Myrmicidae]; Mayr, 1865: 17 [Myrmicidae]; Mayr, 1868b: 24 [Myrmicidae]; Forel, 1870: 307 [Myrmicidae]; Forel, 1874: 22 [Myrmicidae]; Emery, 1877a: 70 [Myrmicidae]; Forel, 1878: 367 [Myrmicidae]; Emery & Forel, 1879a: 456 [Myrmicidae]; André, 1881b: 64 [Myrmicidae]; Nasonov, 1889: 28 [Myrmicidae]; Forel, 1891b: 11 [Myrmicidae]; Forel, 1892j: 220 [Myrmicidae]; Forel, 1893a: 163 [Myrmicinae]; Dalla Torre, 1893: 53; Emery, 1895j: 768 [subfamily spelled Myrmicini]; Emery, 1896e: 179; Forel, 1899c: 30; Forel, 1902f: 520; Bingham, 1903: 105; Ruzsky, 1905b: 103; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 138; Emery, 1914a: 29; Wheeler, 1915g: 806 [Myrmicides]; Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 40; Donisthorpe, 1915d: 74; Arnold, 1916: 166; Escherich, 1917: 2 [Myrmicini]; Forel, 1917: 240 [subfamily spelled Myrmicini]; Bondroit, 1918: 14 [Myrmicitae]; Wheeler, W.M. 1920: 53; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 124; Emery, 1921f: 3; Karavaiev, 1934: 59; Clark, 1951: 16; Brown, 1954e: 28; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1972a: 40; Brown, 1973b: 166; subsequent authors.
- Myrmicinae as myrmicomorph subfamily of Formicidae: Bolton, 2003: 52, 182.
- Myrmicinae as formicoid subfamily of Formicidae: Moreau, et al. 2006: 102; Brady, et al. 2006: 18173.
- Myrmicinae as formicoid myrmicomorph subfamily of Formicidae: Ward, 2007a: 556.
Taxonomic References
Mayr, 1865: 17 (diagnosis); Mayr, 1867a: 91 (diagnosis); Forel, 1878: 367 (diagnosis); Handlirsch, 1907: 872 (*fossil taxa catalogue); Dalla Torre, 1893: 53 (catalogue); Emery, 1895j: 768 (diagnosis); Emery, 1896e: 179 (genera key); Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 138 (diagnosis); Emery, 1912b: 101 (phylogeny); Emery, 1914a: 34 (phylogeny, tribe key); Arnold, 1916: 164 (diagnosis); Forel, 1917: 240 (synoptic classification); Forel, 1921c: 139 (diagnosis); Emery, 1921f: 3 (diagnosis, tribes and genera key, catalogue); Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 124, 655 (diagnosis, tribes key); Brown & Nutting, 1950: 126 (venation, phylogeny); Brown, 1954e: 28 (phylogeny); Eisner, 1957: 477 (proventriculus morphology); Bernard, 1967: 93 (diagnosis); Gotwald, 1969: 99 (mouthparts morphology); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1972a: 40 (diagnosis); Brown, 1973b: 166 (genera, distribution); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1976b: 52 (larvae, review and synthesis); Kugler, C. 1978a: 413 (sting structure); Kugler, C. 1978b: 267 (pygidial glands); Kugler, C. 1979c: 117 (sting, evolution); Snelling, R.R. 1981: 393 (synoptic classification); Caetano, F.H. 1984: 257 (digestive tract, morphology); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1985: 257 (synoptic classification); Billen, 1986: 167 (Dufour's gland); Dlussky & Fedoseeva, 1988: 79 (synoptic classification); Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990: 9 onward (synoptic classification, genera keys); Baroni Urbani, et al. 1992: 317 (phylogeny); Bolton, 1994: 75 (diagnosis, synoptic classification, genera keys); Bolton, 1995a: 1040 (census); Bolton, 1995b: 13 (catalogue); Hashimoto, 1996: 354 (phylogenetic position); Baroni Urbani, 2000: 480 (phylogeny); Dlussky & Rasnitsyn, 2002: 422 (diagnosis for wingless fossils); Bolton, 2003: 52, 182 (diagnosis, synopsis); Moreau, et al. 2006: 102 (phylogeny); Brady, et al. 2006: 18173 (phylogeny); Ward, 2007a: 556 (classification); Keller, 2011: 1 (morphology, phylogeny); Ward, et al. 2015: 61 (phylogeny); Boudinot, 2015: 56 (diagnosis); Fisher & Bolton, 2016: 50 (diagnosis).
Regional and National Faunas with Keys
Mayr, 1855: 391 (Austria); Mayr, 1861: 29 (Europe); Mayr, 1868b: 79 (*Baltic Amber); André, 1874: 171 (Europe); Forel, 1874: 29 (Switzerland); Saunders, E. 1880: 213 (Britain); André, 1882c: 256 (Europe and Algeria); Cresson, 1887: 98 (U.S.A. genera); Provancher, 1887: 243 (Canada); Nasonov, 1889: 54 (Russia); Forel, 1891b: 11 (Madagascar genera); Lameere, 1892: 66 (Belgium); Forel, 1902f: 520 (India and Sri Lanka genera); Bingham, 1903: 105 (India, Sri Lanka and Burma); Ruzsky, 1905b: 103 (Russian Empire); Wasmann, 1906: 13 (Luxemburg); Bondroit, 1910: 490 (Belgium); Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 558 (North America genera); Stitz, 1914: 55 (Central Europe); Gallardo, 1915: 32 (Argentina genera); Forel, 1915d: 8 (Switzerland); Donisthorpe, 1915d: 74 (Britain); Arnold, 1916: 166, 170 (South Africa tribes, genera); Emery, 1916b: 112 (Italy); Wheeler, W.M. 1916m: 581 (U.S.A., Connecticut); Bondroit, 1918: 90 (France and Belgium); Kutter, 1920b: 144 (Switzerland); Soudek, 1922: 20 (Czechoslovakia); Stärcke, 1926: 84 (Netherlands); Karavaiev, 1927c: 256 (Ukraine); Donisthorpe, 1927b: 77 (Britain); Menozzi & Russo, 1930: 170 (Dominican Republic); Gallardo, 1932b: 91 (Argentina, tribes); Arnol'di, 1933b: 596 (Russia); Menozzi, 1933b: 88 (Israel genera); Karavaiev, 1934: 60 (Ukraine); Smith, M.R. 1937: 829 (Puerto Rico); Stitz, 1939: 63 (Germany); Kratochvíl, 1941: 71 (Central Europe); Novák & Sadil, 1941: 71 (Central Europe); Cole, 1942: 360 (U.S.A., Utah); Smith, M.R. 1943f: 291 (U.S.A., males); Holgersen, 1943b: 166 (Norway); Holgersen, 1944: 198 (Norway); Buren, 1944a: 281 (U.S.A., Iowa); Smith, M.R. 1947f: 543 (U.S.A. genera); van Boven, 1947: 170 (Belgium); Creighton, 1950a: 83 (Nearctic); Kusnezov, 1956: 15 (Argentina); Brown, 1958h: 25 (New Zealand); van Boven, 1959: 7 (Netherlands); Gregg, 1963: 288 (U.S.A., Colorado); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1963: 92 (U.S.A., North Dakota); Collingwood, 1964: 94 (Britain); Bernard, 1967: 95 (Western Europe); Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 13 (Polynesia); van Boven, 1970b: 9 (Netherlands); Kempf, 1972a: 263 (Neotropical, synoptic classification); Bolton, 1973a: 325 (West Africa genera); Bolton & Collingwood, 1975: 3 (Britain); Snelling, R.R. & Hunt, 1976: 70 (Chile); Tarbinsky, 1976: 19 (Kyrghyzstan); van Boven, 1977: 69 (Belgium); Kutter, 1977c: 31 (Switzerland); Arnol'di & Dlussky, 1978: 524 (former European U.S.S.R.); Collingwood, 1978: 75 (Iberian Peninsula); Collingwood, 1979: 36 (Fennoscandia and Denmark); Greenslade, 1979: 20 (South Australia genera); Schembri & Collingwood, 1981: 423 (Malta); Allred, 1982: 438 (U.S.A., Utah); Baroni Urbani, 1984: 76 (Neotropical genera); Verhaeghe, Deligne, et al. 1984: 112 (Belgium genera); Gösswald, 1985: 289 (Germany); Collingwood, 1985: 245 (Saudi Arabia); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 20 (U.S.A., Nevada); Nilsson & Douwes, 1987: 57 (Norway); Agosti & Collingwood, 1987b: 265 (Balkans); Dlussky, et al. 1990: 181 (Turkmenistan); Kupyanskaya, 1990: 89 (Far Eastern Russia); Ogata, 1991b: 61 (Japan genera); Morisita, et al. 1992: 1 (Japan); Atanasov & Dlussky, 1992: 51 (Bulgaria); Lattke, in Jaffe, 1993: 153 (Neotropical genera); Arakelian, 1994: 15 (Armenia); Wu, J. & Wang, 1995: 57 (China genera); Kupyanskaya, 1995: 327 (Far Eastern Russia); Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 308 (Saudi Arabia); Seifert, 1996b: 108 (Central Europe); Skinner & Allen, 1996: 43 (Britain); Collingwood & Prince, 1998: 10 (Portugal); Shattuck, 1999: 39, 122 (Australia genera, synopsis); Andersen, 2000: 37 (northern Australia genera); Zhou, 2001b: 69 (China, Guangxi); Czechowski, et al. 2002: 135 (Poland); Aktaç & Radchenko, 2002: 55 (Turkey genera); Yoshimura & Onoyama, 2002: 424 (Japan genera, males); Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 58 (U.S.A., New Mexico); Palacio & Fernández, in Fernández, 2003d: 244 (Neotropical genera and synopsis); Coovert, 2005: 32 (U.S.A., Ohio); Radchenko, 2005b: 184 (North Korea); Clouse, 2007b: 190 (Micronesia); Seifert, 2007: 110 (North and Central Europe); Terayama, 2009: 131 (Taiwan); Heterick, 2009: 36 (south-western Australia genera); Boer, 2010: 46 (Benelux); Eguchi, et al. 2011: 8 (Vietnam genera); Czechowski, et al. 2012: 344 (Poland); General & Alpert, 2012: 73 (Philippines genera key) ; Dlussky & Perfilieva, 2014: 433 (British Eocene species key); Baccaro, et al. 2015: 82, 202 (Brazil genera key, text).
Taxonomic Notes
Bolton 2003:
The myrmicomorph subfamilies
Subfamilies Agroecomyrmecinae, Myrmicinae.
Diagnosis Paraglossae present on labium (note 1). Antennal sockets vertical or strongly inclined upward toward midline of head (note 2). Torulus not completely fused to frontal lobe. Ocelli absent (note 3). Promesonotal suture usually absent, less commonly vestigial; in the latter case the suture is fully fused and immobile, the pronotum and mesonotum incapable of movement relative to each other (note 4). Metacoxal cavities fully closed, the annulus broad and without a suture (note 5). Propodeal lobes usually present (note 6). Waist of two segments petiole plus postpetiole) (note 7). Petiole with complete tergosternal fusion (note 8). Presclerites present on abdominal segment IV (first gastral) (also in male) the presternite distinctly shorter than the pretergite (note 9). Pretarsal claws without a preapical tooth on the inner margin (note 10). Sting present, usually functional. Jugal lobe absent from hindwing of alates. Pupae naked. [Synopsis, p. 181.]
Notes (1) Paraglossae have not been recorded in Metapone; the presence of paraglossae is regarded as plesiomorphic. (2) For distribution of character see notes under formicomorph subfamilies. In most myrmicomorphs the antennal sockets are relatively widely separated. They are secondarily approximated in tribes such as Stenammini, Solenopsidini and Melissotarsini and secondarily extremely widely separated in Agroecomyrmecini and Cataulacini. (3) Ocelli are considered absent in myrmicomorph workers although in worker polymorphic taxa, especially those with major workers that develop gyne-like characters (for example some Pheidole, Pheidologeton, Oligomyrmex, Atta, Solenopsis geminata group, some Crematogaster depressa group (list is not exhaustive) the largest may have at least a median ocellus present. Elsewhere ocelli, or more usually the median ocellus alone, may be sporadically and perhaps teratologically developed in individuals or nests (observed in Atopomyrmex, Cataulacus, Huberia, Metapone, Monomorium). Ocelli are universal in alate queens and males. (4) In some myrmicomorph taxa a line or feeble indentation across the dorsal alitrunk may indicate the original track of the pro meso notal suture. Elsewhere in the family the suture is also univerally fused and immobile in all dorylomorph subfamilies except Leptanilloidinae, and fused in the poneromorph groups Ectatommini, Paraponerini, Proceratiini and Probolomyrmecini. Plesiomorphic lack of promesonotal fusion, with retained mobility of pronotum and mesonotum relative to one another, is characteristic of the formicomorphs, myrmeciomorphs and leptanillomorphs, as well as the dorylomorph subfamily Leptanilloidinae and all poneromorphs except those mentioned above. (5) For distribution of character see notes under Dolichoderinae. (6) Propodeallobes are universal in myrmicomorphs except for Melissotarsini and some Crematogastrini, where their absence is regarded as a secondary adaptation. For distribution of this character see notes under myrmeciomorph subfamilies. (7) All myrmicomorphs have a two-segmented waist and the character probably represents a single evolutionary event. A single-segmented waist, the plesiomorphic condition, is universal in formicomorphs and poneromorphs except for Paraponerini and a few species of Proceratiini, where segment III is quite reduced and could be termed sub-postpetiolate. Among the myrmeciomorphs, dorylomorphs and leptanillomorphs both counts occur in each group and sometimes both counts occur within a single subfamily, as is the case in Myrmeciinae, Cerapachyinae and Ecitoninae. It is obvious that the reduction of abdominal segment III to a distinct postpetiole has evolved independently many times in Formicidae. (8) For distribution of character see notes under formicomorph subfamilies. (9) The relatively short presternite on abdominal segment IV is also found in Pseudomyrmecinae. This feature has almost certainly arisen independently and is not a myrmicine/pseudomyrmecine synapomorphy. (10) Pretarsal claws are also simple, lacking a preapical tooth, in the formicomorph and leptanillomorph subfamilies. In other subfamily groups such teeth are variously developed, being absent in some taxa, present in others; the presence of such teeth is plesiomorphic.
MYRMICINAE
Diagnosis. With characters of myrmicomorph subfamilies. Clypeus usually inserted between antennal sockets (note 1). Antennal sockets usually not strongly migrated laterally (note 2). Metapleural gland orifice a longitudinal slit or narrow crescent that opens dorsally to posterodorsally, not overhung by a cuticular flange or flap (note 3). Petiole in posterior view with the fused tergile and sternile equally convex, their inner margins forming a circle. Tergite and sternite of helcium together form a rough circle in frontal view, the apices of the two sclerites meet end to end, the tergile does not overlap the sternite; helcium sternite bulges ventrally and is not retracted (note 4) (also in male). Abdominal segment III (postpetiole) usually without tergosternal fusion (note 5); abdominal segment IV without tergosternal fusion (note 6), with or without a stridulitrum on pretergite. Sternite of abdominal segment IV not reduced, the segment not strongly downcurved. Postpygidial glands absent (note 7). [Synopsis, p. 182.]
Notes. (1) Median portion of clypeus fails to extend back between the antennal sockets only in Melissotarsini; this is considered to be an independent apomorphic development of that tribe. (2) The only genus in which the antennal sockets and frontal lobes are strongly migrated laterally is Cataulacus, in which feature it resembles Tatuidris (see above), but otherwise their cephalic morphologies are extremely different. (3) Vertically directed guard-hairs that arise some distance below the orifice are frequently developed. External appearance of the metapleural gland is very similar to that encountered in Ectatomminae; the structure may be synapomorphic. The slit-like orifice of the gland is usually so narrow in Myrmicinae that it is inconspicuous. (4) A ventrally bulging helcium sternite is also developed throughout the dorylomorph subfamilies, in Discothyrea (Proceratiini) and in Tatuidris (Agroecomyrmecini), but in all of these the sternite is retracted, so that tergite overlaps sternite, and the latter is attached some distance up the inner surface of the tergite. (5) Tergosternal fusion of abdominal segment III occurs only in Cataulacini, Cephalotini and Myrmicaria among all the Myrmicinae. This may be a synapomorphy in the first two but is certainly independently derived in the last. For distribution of this character elsewhere in the family see notes under dorylomorph subfamilies. (6) In Ankylomyrma the tergite of abdominal segment IV is enormously hypertrophied; the sternite appears to be a small sclerite fused to the anteroventral rim of the tergite: see under Ankylomyrmini. (7) Postpygidial glands are also absent in the formicomorph subfamilies, almost certainly independently.
Comments (i) This subfamily, overwhelmingly the largest, most diverse and most successful of the Formicidae, is divided into a number of tribes, which are gathered here into formal or informal tribe groups. Some groups of tribes are demonstrably monophyletic (the dacetine-, cephalotine-, and attine tribe groups) but the remainder are grouped only by inclusive diagnoses, so their monophyly remains in doubt. Within this latter set of groups some individual tribes are demonstrably monophyletic but others are not. A number of new, mainly monogeneric, tribes have been set up to accommodate the more obvious problem areas. In general these are taxa with a wealth of autapomorphic developments but a dearth of recognisable synapomorphies. (ii) Many of the extreme inquilines (workerless permanent social parasites) encountered in the Myrmicinae will fail taxon diagnosis because of their "inquiline syndrome" habitus and grossly convergent morphological reductions and modifications, acquired in response to their unique way of life. Inclusion of such forms in higher taxa must rest upon molecular analysis, for instance the proof by Sanetra & Buschinger (2000) that the extreme inquilines Anergates and Teleutomyrmex are correctly grouped with Tetramorium. (iii) For another possible Ectatommini/Myrmicinae synapomorphy (as well as (3) above) see comments under the former.
References
- Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and classification of Formicidae. Mem. Amer. Entomol. Inst. 71:1-370.
- Borowiec, M.L., Moreau, C.S., Rabeling, C. 2020. Ants: Phylogeny and Classification. In: C. Starr (ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Insects (doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_155-1).
- Boudinot, B.E. 2015. Contributions to the knowledge of Formicidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata): a new diagnosis of the family, the first global male-based key to subfamilies, and a treatment of early branching lineages. European Journal of Taxonomy 120, 1-62 (http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2015.120).
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- Aix-en-Provence, France fossil
- Oligocene
- Arkansas amber fossil
- Eocene
- Baltic amber fossil
- Bembridge Marls fossil
- Bitterfeld amber fossil
- Bolshaya Svetlovodnaya fossil
- Borneo amber fossil
- Miocene
- Brunn-Vösendorf, Austria fossil
- Brunstatt, France fossil
- Danish-Scandinavian amber fossil
- Dominican amber fossil
- Epecuen Formation fossil
- Ethiopian amber fossil
- Florissant fossil
- Fushun amber fossil
- Green River Formation fossil
- Iki Island, Japan fossil
- Khronya Cape fossil
- Kishenehn Formation shale fossil
- Kleinkems, Germany fossil
- Mexican amber fossil
- Mokrina, Czechia fossil
- Oeningen, Switzerland fossil
- Orapa fossil
- Cretaceous
- Parschlug, Austria fossil
- Quesnel, British Columbia fossil
- Radoboj fossil
- Rott, Germany fossil
- Rovno amber fossil
- Sakhalin amber fossil
- Paleocene
- Schossnitz, Poland fossil
- Shanwang, China fossil
- Sicilian amber fossil
- Vishnevaya Balka Creek fossil
- Subfamily
- Extant subfamily
- Myrmicinae