Contents
Overview
Identification
Notes
Genera Details
Key to Genera
Adlerzia
Anillomyrma
Anisopheidole
Aphaenogaster
Calyptomyrmex
Cardiocondyla
Carebara
Colobostruma
Crematogaster
Dilobocondyla
Epopostruma
Eurhopalothrix
Lordomyrma
Machomyrma
Mayriella
Meranoplus
Mesostruma
Metapone
Monomorium
Myrmecina
Orectognathus
Peronomyrmex
Pheidole
Pheidologeton
Podomyrma
Pristomyrmex
Pyramica
Rhopalomastix
Rhopalothrix
Rhoptromyrmex
Romblonella
Solenopsis
Stereomyrmex
Strumigenys
Tetramorium
Vollenhovia
Vombisidris
Unnamed
Genus #1
Unnamed Genus #2
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Subfamily
Myrmicinae
Overview
This is the largest subfamily in Australia, based on both the number of
genera and the number of species. Myrmicines range greatly in size, with
the smallest about 1 mm long and the largest up to 10 mm. While many
species are generalist predators, some specialise on selected soft-bodied
invertebrates such as Collembola and others are important seed harvesters.
Workers can be found foraging at all times of the day and night, sometimes
in large numbers. Nests can be found in almost any suitable location
from deep in the soil to the upper branches of trees. Colonies are generally
small with a few hundred to a few thousand workers, although some species
can have huge nests with many thousands of workers while others form very
small nests with fewer than 50 individuals.
Morphologically,
these ants are very diverse. Many groups are highly modified with unusual
mandibles, elongate spines, elaborate hairs or unique structures not seen
in any other ants. Because of this, many genera are relatively easy to
identify as they have highly distinctive features which are easily seen
(given the appropriate magnification). At the same time, some genera
are much less specialised or modified, and separating these from close
relatives can be difficult. In these cases, close inspection of subtle
differences may be required.
Myrmicines
occur throughout the world in all major habitats (except arctic and antarctic
regions). They are the largest subfamily of ants with over 6700 species
and subspecies and 155 genera. Australia has over 350 species placed
in 41 genera, and includes two genera and many species which are currently
undescribed. Eight of the genera are restricted to Australia.
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Identification Notes
The mesosoma is attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole
and postpetiole (Figs 1a, 5, 7). The mandibles are generally triangular
(Fig. 2, 4, 6), but if they are elongate then there are no teeth along
the inner margin and they are attached near the middle of the front margin
of the head (Fig. 3a). The eyes are almost always present, conspicuous
and with many facets (Fig. 1b, 2, 3, 4, 6) but are absent in a few species.
The frontal lobes are always present and expanded towards the sides so
they cover the inner part of the antennal bases where they are inserted
into the head when viewed from the front (Fig. 2a, 4, 6). The pronotum
and mesonotum are fused into a single plate (Fig. 1c, 5, 7).
Species
of myrmicines are most likely to be confused with species of Leptanilla
or Tetraponera
because of the two segmented petiole. However, both Leptanilla
and Tetraponera have the pronotum and mesonotum not fused and have
a flexible joint between them , while in all myrmicines these two plates
are fused into a single structure (Fig. 1c, 5, 7).
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Genera Identification
Go to the Key
to Genera.
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