Myrmeciinae is a subfamily of the Formicidae,

ants Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Creta ...

once found worldwide but now restricted to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and

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. This subfamily is one of several ant subfamilies which possess gamergates, female worker ants which are able to mate and reproduce, thus sustaining the colony after the loss of the queen. The Myrmeciinae subfamily was formerly composed of only one genus, ''

Myrmecia Myrmecia can refer to: * ''Myrmecia'' (alga), genus of algae associated with lichens * ''Myrmecia'' (ant), genus of ants called bulldog ants * Myrmecia (skin), a kind of deep wart on the human hands or feet See also * '' Copromorpha myrmecias'' ...

'', but the subfamily was redescribed by Ward & Brady in 2003 to include two tribes and four genera: An additional three genera, one form genus, and 9 species were described in 2006 from the Early Eocene of Denmark, Canada, and Washington. Subsequently an additional fossil genus was moved from the family

Rhopalosomatidae Rhopalosomatidae is a family of Hymenoptera containing about 68 extant species in four genera that are found worldwide. Three fossil genera are known. The adults resemble ants and may be confused with them. They are yellowish with red or brown m ...

in 2018, and a new genus was described in 2021.

Tribes and genera

*Tribe Myrmeciini **''

'' *Tribe Prionomyrmecini **''

Nothomyrmecia ''Nothomyrmecia'', also known as the dinosaur ant or dawn ant, is an extremely rare genus of ants consisting of a single species, ''Nothomyrmecia macrops''. These ants live in South Australia, nesting in old-growth mallee woodland and ''Eucalyp ...

'' **†''

Prionomyrmex ''Prionomyrmex'' is an extinct genus of bulldog ants in the subfamily Myrmeciinae of the family Formicidae. It was first described by Gustav Mayr in 1868, after he collected a holotype worker of ''P. longiceps'' in Baltic amber. Three species ...

'' *Tribe ''incertae sedis'' **†''

Archimyrmex ''Archimyrmex'' is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Myrmeciinae, described by palaeoentomologist Theodore Cockerell in 1923. The genus contains four described species, ''Archimyrmex rostratus'', ''Archimyrmex piatnitzkyi'', ' ...

'' **†'' Avitomyrmex'' **†''

Macabeemyrma ''Macabeemyrma'' is an extinct genus of bulldog ants in the subfamily Myrmeciinae containing the single species ''Macabeemyrma ovata'', described in 2006 from Ypresian stage (Early Eocene) deposits of British Columbia, Canada. Only a single spe ...

'' **†''

Propalosoma ''Propalosoma'' is an extinct genus of ant Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous per ...

'' **†'' Tyrannomecia'' **†''

Ypresiomyrma ''Ypresiomyrma'' is an extinct genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmeciinae that was described in 2006. There are four species described; one species is from the Isle of Fur in Denmark, two are from the McAbee Fossil Beds in British Columbia, Cana ...

'' *Form genus (for species belonging to the subfamily but not identifiable to current genera) **†''

Myrmeciites ''Myrmeciites'' is an extinct form genus of bulldog ants in the subfamily Myrmeciinae of the family Formicidae, which contains three described species and two fossils not placed beyond the genus level. Described in 2006 from Ypresian stage ( E ...

'' The Late Aptian

Crato Formation The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin. It is an important Lagerstätte (undisturbed fossil accumulation) for palaeontologists. The strata were laid down mostly during ...

genus '' Cariridris'' is sometimes included in Myrmeciinae, though it has also been classified as an Ampulicidae genus. Two undescribed specimens in the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart are known, suggesting a myrmeciine affinity.Martill, D.M., Bechly, G. and Loveridge, R.F. (2007). ''The Crato fossil beds of Brazil: window into an ancient world.'' Cambridge University Press. ,

Classification

The subfamily Myrmeciinae was established by Italian entomologist

Carlo Emery Carlo Emery (25 October 1848, Naples – 11 May 1925) was an Italian entomologist. He is remembered for Emery's rule, which states that insect social parasites are often closely related to their hosts. Early in his career Carlo Emery pursue ...

in 1877 under the original name Myrmeciidae. It was named after the genus ''Myrmecia'', the type genus of the subfamily. In 1882, the subfamily was treated as a tribe by French entomologist

Ernest André Ernest is a given name derived from Germanic word ''ernst'', meaning "serious". Notable people and fictional characters with the name include: People * Archduke Ernest of Austria (1553–1595), son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor * Ernest, ...

within the former ant family Myrmicidae, but it would later be moved to the family Poneridae in 1905.

References

External links

* * Ant subfamilies Taxa named by Carlo Emery {{Myrmeciinae-stub