In ants, the traditional

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 ...

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 largest species of ant. Mated workers have replaced the queen as the fun ...

has been subdivided into several Poneromorph subfamilies, with several former

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...

s now elevated to subfamily rank. According to this analysis, some ponerine groups may be more closely related to other subfamilies than to each other. The subfamilies of "poneromorph" Formicidae include: *

Amblyoponinae Amblyoponinae is a subfamily of ants in the poneromorph subfamilies group containing 13 extant genera and one extinct genus. The ants in this subfamily are mostly specialized subterranean predators. Adult workers pierce the integument (non letha ...

Ectatomminae Ectatomminae is a subfamily of ants in the poneromorph subfamilies group containing four extant and three extinct genera in two tribes. The subfamily was created in 2003 when Barry Bolton divided the Ponerinae subfamily into six subfamilies. ...

(apparently related to the widely distributed and highly diverse

Myrmicinae 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 ...

) *

Heteroponerinae Heteroponerinae is a subfamily of ants in the poneromorph subfamilies group containing three genera in one tribe. The subfamily was created in 2003 when Barry Bolton divided the Ponerinae Ponerinae is a subfamily of ants in the Poneromo ...

Paraponerinae ''Paraponera'' is a genus of ants and the only genus in the subfamily Paraponerinae. The name means "near-''Ponera''". It consists of two species: the extant ''Paraponera clavata'', also known as a bullet ant, found in the Neotropics, and the v ...

(in a much more restricted sense) *

Proceratiinae Proceratiinae is a subfamily of ants in the poneromorph subfamilies group, with three extant genera, of which most are tropical or subtropical, although overall distribution is worldwide. Identification The ants are relatively small to medium i ...

. Long considered primitive on the basis of retention of a typical

hymenoptera Hymenoptera is a large order (biology), order of insects, comprising the sawfly, sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Many of the species are Par ...

sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-eart ...

and

pupa A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their ...

e in cocoons, some groups among the poneromorphs exhibit considerable specialization in predatory habits and mandibular form. These two evolutionary developments are often, but not necessarily, seen in association: elongated mandibles with modified teeth for handling large and potentially toxic prey in ''

Amblyopone ''Amblyopone'' is a genus of 10 species of ants, found in Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea and New Zealand.Yoshimura, M.; Fisher, B.L. 2012: A revision of male ants of the Malagasy Amblyoponinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with resurrections ...

'' and ''

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 specia ...

'', and strongly modified "snap-jaws" and associated musculature in the generalized predator ''

Odontomachus ''Odontomachus'' is a genus of ants commonly called trap-jaw ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world. Overview Commonly known as trap-jaw ants, species in ''Odontomachus'' have a pair of large, straight mandibles capable ...

''. Most poneromorphs are strict predators just like their ancestors (stinging

Hymenoptera Hymenoptera is a large order (biology), order of insects, comprising the sawfly, sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Many of the species are Par ...

). Foraging for extrafloral nectar and honeydew from sap-sucking insects has secondarily evolved in Ectatomminae and Paraponerinae, as well as ''Odontomachus'' (Ponerinae). A taste for sweets (nectar, fruit) can be considered an evolutionary "advancement" among the ants.

References

Ant taxonomy * {{ant-stub