Formicinae

Formicinae Temporal range: Turonian–Recent[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Camponotus fellah
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae Lepeletier, 1836
Type genus
Formica Linnaeus, 1758
Diversity
51 extant genera in 12 tribes

The Formicinae are a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary development.

Formicines retain some primitive features, such as the presence of

All members of the Formicinae "have a one-segmented petiole in the form of a vertical scale".^[2]

Identification

Formicine ants have a single node-like or scale-like petiole (postpetiole entirely lacking) and the apex of the abdomen has a circular or U-shaped opening (the acidopore), usually fringed with hairs. A functional sting is absent, and defense is provided by the ejection of formic acid through the acidopore. If the acidopore is concealed by the pygidium and difficult to discern, then the antennal sockets are located well behind the posterior margin of the clypeus (cf. Dolichoderinae). In most formicines, the eyes are well developed (ocelli may also be present), the antennal insertions are not concealed by the frontal carinae, and the promesonotal suture is present and flexible.^[3]

Tribes and genera

The tribal structure of the Formicinae is not completely understood. This list follows the scheme at AntCat,^[4] but other schemes and names are used.

References