Ectatomminae | |
---|---|
Green-head ant ( Rhytidoponera metallica ) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Ectatomminae Emery, 1895 |
Type genus | |
Ectatomma Smith, 1858 | |
Diversity [1] | |
15 genera |
This article needs to be updated.(November 2024) |
Ectatomminae is a subfamily of ants in the poneromorph subfamilies group containing four extant and three extinct genera in two tribes. [2] The subfamily was described in 2003 when Barry Bolton divided the Ponerinae subfamily into six subfamilies. [3] Heteroponerinae used to be an independent subfamily, but was merged into Ectatomminae in 2022. [4]
The Formicinae are a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary development.
Dorylinae is an ant subfamily, with distributions in both the Old World and New World. Brady et al. (2014) synonymized the previous dorylomorph subfamilies under Dorylinae, while Borowiec (2016) reviewed and revised the genera, resurrecting many genera which had previously been merged. Dorylinae genera are suggested to have evolved sometime between 102 to 74 million years ago, subsequently undergoing rapid adaptive radiation events during their early history.
Ponerinae, the ponerine ants, is a subfamily of ants in the Poneromorph subfamilies group, with about 1,600 species in 47 extant genera, including Dinoponera gigantea - one of the world's largest species of ant. Mated workers have replaced the queen as the functional egg-layers in several species of ponerine ants. In such queenless species, the reproductive status of workers can only be determined through ovarian dissections.
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.
Dolichoderinae is a subfamily of ants, which includes species such as the Argentine ant, the erratic ant, the odorous house ant, and the cone ant. The subfamily presents a great diversity of species throughout the world, distributed in different biogeographic realms, from the Palearctic, Nearctic, Afrotropical region and Malaysia, to the Middle East, Australian, and Neotropical regions.
Plagiolepis is a genus of ants in the formic acid-producing subfamily Formicinae. The genus is found in tropical and temperate regions of the Old World.
Crematogastrini is a tribe of myrmicine ants with 64 genera and 8 fossil genera.
Rhytidoponera is a large genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. The genus is known from Australia and Melanesia, with New Caledonia as the most eastern limit.
Dolichoderus is a genus of ants found worldwide.
Gnamptogenys is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. The genus has a wide distribution. It is known to occur in the Nearctic, Neotropic, Indomalayan and Australasian realms. Camacho et al, 2022 revised this genus, significantly reducing its size to only 32 valid extant species and 5 valid fossil species by splitting off most species into four formerly synonymized genera Alfaria, Holcoponera, Poneracantha, and Stictoponera.
Typhlomyrmex is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. Known from the Neotropics, the genus has a wide distribution. Some species are restricted in range, while for example Typhlomyrmex rogenhoferi is known from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Little is known about their biology. The name "Typhlomyrmex" means "blind ant", as this genus contains only blind ants. Previously classified under the monotypic tribe Typhlomyrmecini, it was merged into Ectatommini in 2022.
Heteroponera is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. The genus is known from the Neotropics and Australasia.
Poneracantha triangularis is a Neotropical species of ant in the subfamily Ectatomminae. Native to the forests of South and Central America, P. triangularis is a predatory ant that feeds on millipedes. In its native range, this species is known from Buenos Aires, Argentina in the south to Costa Rica in the north, with records from eight countries in South America, and two countries of Central America. The first records of P. triangularis outside its native range came from Florida beginning in 1985 and Alabama in 1996.
Holcoponera is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. They are found in the Neotropics, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The genus was synonymized under Gnamptogenys for a long time, however Camacho et al. 2022 reinstated the validity of this genus.
Ponerini is a tribe of Ponerinae ants with 46 genera and 6 extinct genera.
Poneracantha is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. They are found in Central America, the Caribbean, and Central America. One species, Poneracantha triangularis, is invasive to the southeastern United States. The genus was synonymized under Gnamptogenys for a long time, however Camacho et al. 2022 reinstated the validity of this genus.
Stictoponera is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. They are found in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The genus was synonymized under Gnamptogenys for a long time, however Camacho et al. 2022 reinstated the validity of this genus.
Alfaria is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. They are found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. The genus was synonymized under Gnamptogenys for a long time, however Camacho et al. 2022 reinstated the validity of this genus.