Pseudomyrmecinae

The subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae is represented in Australia by a single genus, Tetraponera. Their elongate, slender bodies and large, oval eyes, combined with their arboreal habits, are distinctive and make these ants easily recognisable. They are predominantly arboreal, though a few species nest in dead wood on the ground, and one or two are even found in termite nests.

This subfamily contains three genera and are found world-wide primarily in tropical and subtropical areas, although they extend south into more temperate areas in Australia. There are over 250 described species and subspecies in the subfamily, seven of which are known from Australia.

Identification
The mesosoma is attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole and postpetiole. The mandibles are triangular and relatively short. The eyes are large and elongate. The pronotum and mesonotum form separate plates which are connected by a flexible joint.

These distinctive ants are recognisable by their elongate, black bodies, large eyes and short antennae. The are most often confused with species in the subfamily Myrmicinae, but differ in the pronotum and mesonotum forming separate plates rather than being fused as in the myrmicines.

Genus richness
Genus richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more genus-rich).



Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich).



Nomenclature
PSEUDOMYRMECINAE [subfamily of Formicidae]
 * Pseudomyrmecinae Smith, M.R. 1952a: 98 [as subfamily of Formicidae]. Type-genus: Pseudomyrmex.
 * Senior synonym of Leptaleinae: Smith, M.R. 1958c: 112; of Pseudomyrmidae: Ward, 1990: 459. [Pseudomyrmecinae retains priority over Pseudomyrmidae and Leptaleinae under Article 40.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (4th Edition), 1999: 46.]