Amblyoponinae

{{Short description|Subfamily of ants}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range= {{fossilrange|Lutetian|0| Lutetian - Recent}}

| image = Adetomyrma venatrix casent0172771 profile 1.jpg

| image_caption = Adetomyrma venatrix worker

| parent_authority = Forel, 1893

| taxon = Amblyoponini

| authority = Forel, 1893

| subdivision_ranks = Genera

| subdivision = 9 extant genera; 1 fossil genus

| type_genus = Amblyopone

| type_genus_authority = Erichson, 1842

}}

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 lethally) of their larvae and pupa to imbibe haemolymph, earning them the common name Dracula ant.{{Cite journal |last1=WARD |first1=PHILIP S. |last2=FISHER |first2=BRIAN L. |date=2016-06-02 |title=Tales of dracula ants: the evolutionary history of the ant subfamily Amblyoponinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/syen.12186 |journal=Systematic Entomology |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=683–693 |doi=10.1111/syen.12186 |bibcode=2016SysEn..41..683W |s2cid=51820029 |issn=0307-6970}}

Identification

Amblyoponinae is characterized by these worker characters: eyes small or absent, situated behind midlength of side of head; anterior margin of clypeus with specialized dentiform setae; promesonotal suture flexible; petiole very broadly attached to abdominal segment 3 and without a distinct posterior face; postpetiole absent; sting present and well developed.

Systematics

The subfamily was formerly considered a tribe within Ponerinae, but was elevated to its own subfamily in 2003 when Barry Bolton divided Ponerinae into six subfamilies.

References

{{Reflist|2|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.antweb.org/description.do?&name=amblyoponinae&rank=subfamily&project=allantwebants |title=Subfamily: Amblyoponinae |website=antweb.org |publisher=AntWeb |access-date=21 January 2021}}

{{cite book|first1=Brian L. |last1=Fisher|first2=Stefan P. |last2=Cover|title=Ants of North America: A Guide to the Genera|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nO3hnw8vDRIC&pg=PA58|year=2007|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-93455-9|pages=57–58}}

}}

{{refbegin}}

  • {{OA-attribution| {{Citation| last = Bolton| first = B. | author-link = Barry Bolton| date = 2013| title = An online catalog of the ants of the world.| url = http://antcat.org| access-date = 22 September 2013| work = AntCat}} }}

{{refend}}