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Ponerinae is a
subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
of ants in the Poneromorph subfamilies group, with about 1,600 species in 47 extant genera, including ''
Dinoponera gigantea ''Dinoponera gigantea'' is a species of ant belonging to the family Formicidae. Names It is called taramãçu or uitsi in the Kwaza language of Rondônia, Brazil. Description ''Dinoponera gigantea'' is one of the world's largest species of an ...
'' - one of the world's largest species of ant.
Mated In biology, mating is the pairing of either opposite-sex or hermaphroditic organisms for the purposes of sexual reproduction. ''Fertilization'' is the fusion of two gametes. ''Copulation'' is the union of the sex organs of two sexually reproduc ...
workers have replaced the
queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
as the functional egg-layers in several
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
ponerine Ponerinae 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 fu ...
ants. In such queenless species, the
reproductive The reproductive system of an organism, also known as the genital system, is the biological system made up of all the anatomical organs involved in sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are als ...
status of workers can only be determined through
ovarian The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. T ...
dissections Dissection (from Latin ' "to cut to pieces"; also called anatomization) is the dismembering of the body of a deceased animal or plant to study its anatomical structure. Autopsy is used in pathology and forensic medicine to determine the cause of ...
.


Description and identification

They are most easily identified from other subfamilies by possessing a single-node petiole with a constriction before the second gastral segment. They are rare examples of stinging ants. In addition to the sting, they can also be characterized by a single segmented petiole and the constriction of the first and second segment of the gaster. They can also be identified by the shape of their head. Female workers have twelve segmented antennae, whereas male workers have 13 segmented antennae.


Behavior

These ants typically nest in soil, forest litter, or rotting logs, and are predacious. They primarily prey on isopods. They mostly live in small colonies of up to 200 workers. They can be found mostly in tropical environments, but have been found in southeastern Canada and New York.


Genera

* Platythyreini Emery, 1901 **''
Platythyrea ''Platythyrea'' is a genus of predaceous ants in the subfamily Ponerinae and the sole member of the tribe Platythyreini. Distribution The genus has a worldwide distribution, and is found in the tropics and subtropics of the world. Descriptio ...
'' Roger, 1863 *
Ponerini Ponerini is a tribe of Ponerinae ants with 46 genera and 6 extinct genera. Genera *''Anochetus'' *†'' Archiponera'' *''Asphinctopone'' *''Austroponera'' *''Belonopelta'' *''Boloponera'' *''Bothroponera'' *''Brachyponera'' *''Buniapone ...
Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau, 1835 **''
Anochetus ''Anochetus'' is a genus of small, carnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world. This genus is present in both the Old and New World and is certainly native to all continents except Antarctica and Europe. In Europe o ...
'' Mayr, 1861 **†'' Archiponera'' Carpenter, 1930 **''
Asphinctopone ''Asphinctopone'' is a small genus of rarely encountered Afrotropical ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. Species * '' Asphinctopone differens'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 * '' Asphinctopone pilosa'' Hawkes, 2010 * '' Asphinctopone silvestrii'' Sants ...
'' Santschi, 1914 **''
Austroponera ''Austroponera'' is a ponerine 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 p ...
'' Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014 **''
Belonopelta ''Belonopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. The genus contains two species: ''B. deletrix'' is known from Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most ...
'' Mayr, 1870 **''
Boloponera ''Boloponera'' is a genus of small ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. The genus contains the single species ''Boloponera vicans'', known from a single worker specimen collected in leaf litter in the Central African Republic The Central Afr ...
'' Fisher, 2006 **''
Bothroponera ''Bothroponera'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae Ponerinae 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 l ...
'' Mayr, 1862 **'' Brachyponera'' Emery, 1900 **''
Buniapone ''Buniapone'' is a monotypic genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. ''Buniapone amblyops'', the single described species, is found in Southern and Southeast Asia. Etymology The genus name is derived from orang bunian, supernatural forest-l ...
'' Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014 **''
Centromyrmex ''Centromyrmex'' is a pantropical, though mainly Afrotropical, genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. This ponerine ant was recorded for the first time in French Guiana and the most northerly point of recording was in Costa Rica. The specime ...
'' Mayr, 1866 **†''
Cephalopone ''Cephalopone'' is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. There are two described species placed into the genus, ''Cephalopone grandis'' and ''Cephalopone potens''. ''Cephalopone'' ...
'' Dlussky & Wedmann, 2012 **'' Cryptopone'' Emery, 1893 **†''
Cyrtopone ''Cyrtopone'' is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. There are four described species placed into the genus, ''Cyrtopone curiosa'', ''Cyrtopone elongata'', ''Cyrtopone microcephal ...
'' Dlussky & Wedmann, 2012 **''
Diacamma ''Diacamma'' is a genus of queenless ants belonging to the subfamily Ponerinae. It is distributed from India to Australia and contains about 24 species. Biology A queen caste does not exist in ''Diacamma''. Unique to this genus, all workers em ...
'' Mayr, 1862 **''
Dinoponera ''Dinoponera'' is a strictly South American genus of ant in the subfamily Ponerinae, commonly called tocandiras or giant Amazonian ants. These ants are generally less well known than ''Paraponera clavata'', the bullet ant, yet ''Dinoponera'' fe ...
'' Roger, 186 **''
Dolioponera ''Dolioponera'' is a genus of small ants in the subfamily Ponerinae Ponerinae 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 worl ...
'' Brown, 1974 **''
Ectomomyrmex ''Ectomomyrmex'' is a ponerine genus of ants found in Asia and Australia. Little is known about their biology, but they seem to be generalist predators of arthropod Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskele ...
'' Mayr, 1867 **'' Emeryopone'' Forel, 1912 **''
Euponera ''Euponera'' is a ponerine genus of ants distributed in the Afrotropics (including Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de M ...
'' Forel, 1891 **''
Feroponera ''Feroponera'' is a monotypic Afrotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae containing the single species ''Feroponera ferox''. The genus is known only from a few specimen collected from an unoccupied termitary in Cameroon Ca ...
'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 **''
Fisheropone ''Fisheropone'' (named after Brian Fisher) is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. Known from central Africa, it contains a single described species ''Fisheropone ambigua'', and at least one undescribed species In taxonomy, an undesc ...
'' Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014 **''
Hagensia ''Hagensia'' is a small genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. Its two species are known only from coastal areas in South Africa. Workers are large (10.5–13.0 mm); queens Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Quee ...
'' Forel, 1901 **''
Harpegnathos ''Harpegnathos'' is a small ponerine genus of ants found in South and Southeast Asia. They are notable for their jumping ability, complex colony structure, and large to very large workers easily identifiable by their long mandibles and large eye ...
'' Jerdon, 1851 **''
Hypoponera ''Hypoponera'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. The genus has a worldwide distribution and is found in all continents except Antarctica. Species *'' Hypoponera abeillei'' (André, 1881) *'' Hypoponera agilis'' (Borgmeier, 1934) ...
'' Santschi, 1938 **''
Iroponera ''Iroponera'' (from Latin ''ironia'', "assumed ignorance", ''-pone'', from the name of the subfamily) is a monotypic genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. ''Iroponera odax'', the single described species, is known only from a few collection ...
'' Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014 **''
Leptogenys ''Leptogenys'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. ''Leptogenys'' is the most diverse ponerine ant genus in the world; it is widespread throughout tropical and subtropical regions and there are over 260 extant species described. Mos ...
'' Roger, 1861 **''
Loboponera ''Loboponera'' is an Afrotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae with nine recognized species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A ...
'' Bolton & Brown, 2002 **''
Mayaponera ''Mayaponera'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. It contains the single species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is ...
'' Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014 **''
Megaponera ''Megaponera analis'' is the sole species of the genus ''Megaponera''. They are a strictly termite-eating (termitophagous) ponerine ant species widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa and most commonly known for their column-like raiding format ...
'' Mayr, 1862 **''
Mesoponera ''Mesoponera'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae Ponerinae 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 ...
'' Emery, 1900 **†''
Messelepone ''Messelepone'' is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. ''M. leptogenoides'' is the only species assigned to the genus, which is one of several Lutetian Ponerinae genera. History ...
'' Dlussky & Wedmann, 2012 **''
Myopias ''Myopias'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. The genus is known from the Oriental, Indo-Australian, and Australasian regions. Species *''Myopias amblyops'' Roger, 1861 *''Myopias bidens'' (Emery, 1900) *''Myopias breviloba'' (W ...
'' Roger, 1861 **'' Neoponera'' Emery, 1901 **'' Odontomachus'' Latreille, 1804 **''
Odontoponera ''Odontoponera'' is a small Southeast Asia genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. Description Workers are medium in size (9–12 mm); queens are similar to workers but larger (11–13 mm) and winged. Distribution Its two species ...
'' Mayr, 1862 **''
Ophthalmopone ''Ophthalmopone'' is a ponerine 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 ...
'' Forel, 1890 **''
Pachycondyla ''Pachycondyla'' is a ponerine genus of ants found in the Neotropics. Distribution ''Pachycondyla'' is currently distributed from southern United States to northern Argentina, but some fossil species (e.g. '' P. eocenica'' and '' P. lutzi'') a ...
'' Smith, 1858 **''
Paltothyreus ''Paltothyreus'' (also known as African stink ant) is a monotypic genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. ''Paltothyreus tarsatus'', the single described species, is widely distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa. Workers are very large in size (17 ...
'' Mayr, 1862 **''
Parvaponera ''Parvaponera'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. The genus is distributed in Africa (and Madagascar), Southeast Asia, Australia and the Solomon Islands. Workers are slender and small in size. Queens are similar to workers, but larg ...
'' Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014 **''
Phrynoponera ''Phrynoponera'' is a strictly Afrotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. Species * '' Phrynoponera bequaerti'' Wheeler, 1922 * '' Phrynoponera gabonensis'' (André, 1892) * '' Phrynoponera pulchella'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 * '' P ...
'' Wheeler, 1920 **''
Plectroctena 230px, ''P. mandibularis'' ''Plectroctena'' is an Afrotropical genus of ants, with most species occurring in the rainforest zones of West and Central Africa. Some species are cryptic or subterranean foragers, while others forage in open grassla ...
'' Smith, 1858 **''
Ponera ''Ponera'' is a genus of ponerine ants. The name is the Latinized form (') of the Ancient Greek ' (, 'wicked, wretched'). Description Workers are very small to small in size (1–4 mm); queen are similar to workers but winged. This genus ...
'' Latreille, 1804 **''
Promyopias ''Promyopias'' is an Afrotropical genus of ant in the subfamily Ponerinae containing the single species ''Promyopias silvestrii''. The rare genus has previously been regarded as a separate genus, as a subgenus and as a provisional synonymy, b ...
'' Santschi, 1914 **†''
Protopone ''Protopone'' is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe and Asia. There are seven described species placed into the genus, ''Protopone? dubia'', ''Protopone germanica'', ''Protopone m ...
'' Dlussky, 1988 **'' Psalidomyrmex'' André, 1890 **'' Pseudoneoponera'' Donisthorpe, 1943 **'' Pseudoponera'' Emery, 1900 **''
Rasopone ''Rasopone'' is genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. The genus is restricted to Central and South America. Species *''Rasopone arhuaca'' (Forel, 1901) *''Rasopone becculata'' MacKay & MacKay, 2010 *''Rasopone breviscapa'' MacKay & MacKay, ...
'' Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014 **'' Simopelta'' Mann, 1922 **'' Streblognathus'' Mayr, 1862 **''
Thaumatomyrmex ''Thaumatomyrmex'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae, found from Mexico to Brazil. They are notable for their pitchfork-shaped mandibles, which they use to capture millipedes of the order Polyxenida. The genus is a s ...
'' Mayr, 1887 *'' incertae sedis'' **†''
Afropone ''Afropone'' is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae, and is currently unplaced in any of the tribes of that subfamily. The genus contains two described species, ''Afropone oculata'' and ''Afropone (?) orapa''. ''Afropone' ...
'' Dlussky, Brothers & Rasnitsyn, 2004 **†'' Eogorgites'' Hong, 2002 **†'' Eoponerites'' Hong, 2002 **†'' Furcisutura'' Hong, 2002 **†'' Longicapitia'' Hong, 2002 **†'' Ponerites'' Dlussky & Rasnitsyn, 2003 **†'' Taphopone'' Dlussky & Perfilieva, 2014


References


External links

* Ant subfamilies Turonian first appearances Taxa named by Amédée Louis Michel le Peletier Extant Turonian first appearances {{Ponerinae-stub