Biology:Myrmicinae

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Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera;[1] 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.[2] All species of Cephalotes (within the tribe Attini) are gliding ants.

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.[3]

Tribes

In 2015, the number of tribes was reduced from 25 to six.[4]

Phylogeny

The relationships between the six myrmicine tribes have been debated, and the most recent 2025 phylogeny is shown here.[5]

Myrmicinae
 
 

Myrmicini 100 px

 
 

Pogonomyrmecini 100 px

 
 
 
 

Stenammini 100 px

 
 
 

Crematogastrini 100 px

 
 
 

Attini 100 px

 
 

Solenopsidini 100 px

 
 
 
 
 

Genera

In 2014, most genera were placed into different tribes or moved to other subfamilies. Below is an updated list:[1][4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bolton, B. (2014). "Myrmicinae". AntCat. http://antcat.org/catalog/429529. 
  2. ↑ Goulet, H & Huber, JT (eds.) (1993) Hymenoptera of the world: an identification guide to families. Agriculture Canada. p. 224
  3. ↑ "Subfamily: Myrmicinae". AntWeb. http://www.antweb.org/description.do?name=myrmicinae&rank=subfamily&project=allantwebants. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ward, Philip S.; Brady, Sean G.; Fisher, Brian L.; Schultz, Ted R. (July 2014). "The evolution of myrmicine ants: phylogeny and biogeography of a hyperdiverse ant clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Systematic Entomology 40 (1): 61–81. doi:10.1111/syen.12090. ISSN 1365-3113. http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/2tc8r8w8. 
  5. ↑ Prebus, Matthew; Rabeling, Christian (29 March 2025). "Phylogenomics Resolve the Systematics and Biogeography of the Ant Tribe Myrmicini and Tribal Relationships within the Hyperdiverse Ant Subfamily Myrmicinae". Systematic Biology 74 (4): 526-544. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syaf022. PMC 12640086. https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article/74/4/526/8100254. Retrieved 6 February 2026. 
  • Data related to Myrmicinae at Wikispecies

Wikidata ☰ Q1060265 entry



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